Problem based learning

[owlet]

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FYI

Actually, Harvard wasn't the first to do it. At least, when I interviewed at SIU, the dean of admissions told me that they were the first to do it, that PBL was kind of SIU's claim to fame..."so effective that even Harvard adopted it" were his words. But I can't find anything confirming either way...

UNM says that too, but I think it was actually someplace in Canada.

 

[Sinfekl]

It's also so effective that Harvard is dropping it.

Apparently there's a curriculum revamp in the works to de-emphasize PBL. Can't get you an official source for that, just what I've heard. Perhaps a Harvard student can chip in? It seems in general there's a trend toward mixed curriculums, where PBL supplements lecture. Thats what I gathered on the interview trail, anyway. Seems good to me.

I'm just starting out, but little to no PBL was definitely a major reason I picked my current school

 

[LabMonster]

PBL is one very inefficient way to learn. It's just a result of everyone jumping on the harvard bandwagon.

Funny, I find lectures inefficient.

What anyone seeking information from this thread needs to realize, is that EVERYONE here learns differently, and everyone has an opinion.

You should know how you learn and exploit it; if you learn well with lectures - great, go to a school with all didactic lectures. If lectures are not the best way for you to learn, go somewhere with PBL mixed in...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Funny, I find lectures inefficient.

What anyone seeking information from this thread needs to realize, is that EVERYONE here learns differently, and everyone has an opinion.

Funny, I too find lectures inefficient. So I don't go and study on my own while I do research. That's the good thing about lectures, you don't have to go and can pursue your own ways of meeting goals.

You can't cut PBL. If they made PBL as optional as lectures I would have no problem with it. Unfortunately its such a bad system that if you made it optional maybe 20% of the class would show up.