Problem+Based+Learning+(PBL)

=== [|Problem Based Learning Introduction.ppt] Problem based learning (PBL) is an extremely effective teaching tool that can be used to engage students in content while learning problem-solving skills. The purpose of this series of assignments is to help you practice developing effective problem based learning activities for your classroom. ===

Problem Based Learning Part 1:
As an introduction to Problem Based Learning, as well as the overall structure of a web quest, please go to What is Problem Based Learning? and complete the activity described. When you are done, you should be able to ...

1. Describe the characteristics of a Problem Based Learning lesson. 2. Describe the purpose and structure of a web quest. 3. Analyze different web quests to determine if they are true PBL lessons or not.

Problem Based Learning Part 2:
==== [|BSC 307 Problem Based Learning Assignment-1.doc] For this assignment, you are to design your own Problem Based Learning activity and publish it in the form of a web quest. You should post the link to your web quest, along with a description of the activity and the concepts covered, under the student work section below.====

==== [|BSC 307 PBL Web Quest Rubric.doc] The rubric being used to assess this assignment is has two parts. The first part counts towards your course grade; the second part is being used by your instructor to assess how well your PBL lesson meets NCATE standards. ====

Web Quest Templates: [] []

**Solving the Great Oil Disaster Solving the Great Oil Disaster-Melissa Doellman:** In this problem based learning web quest, students will become members of an Environmental Action Plan Committee. In the scenario, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued a call for proposals designed to prepare for the possibility of future oil spills. Their job as a team is to design an immediate action plan should another oil leak occur. The plan should address immediate action regarding ecosystems, ocean sustainability, and practical engineering solutions to prevent and stop any future oil spill. Students will create a formal written proposal and Power Point or Prezi presentation that will be given to the class.

http://theorganlist.wikispaces.com/  The Organ List - Maggie Quinn: In the PBL students are asked to pick one of three patients to receive lungs for a lung transplant. Using what the students know of heredity, the respiratory system, and biochem, they narrow down their options to a final choice. For the final presentation students with create a PowerPoint detailing what made their chosen candidate the best.

http://thehuntingtonsdiseasedilemma.wikispaces.com/ **The Huntington's disease Dilemma - Milica Leone:** On this PBL web quest, students will get to act as various members of a team of Genetic Counselor's at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. In this web quest, a young woman named Abby Carter is seeing a new doctor in the process of discussing her medical history, she reveals that her maternal grandmother died at age 45 of Huntington's disease and Abby's mother had Abby when she was only 16 years old so if her mother has the disease, it has not yet begun to show and her mother does not want to be tested. Abby does not show signs of the disease either but would like to get tested so Dr. Green refer's her to the Genetic Counseling team to explore whether or not Abby should be tested YET for the disease. In the end, students will write a final paper about their decision as to whether or not Abby should be tested at this point, as well as create a brief presentation for the class. This PBL is best placed at the end of a genetics unit or a biotechnology unit as it deals with a genetic disease and one of the main points of focus is whether genetic testing at this time is a good option. This project is best for a more advanced Biology II class and most certainly any AP Biology course.

http://webquest307.wikispaces.com/ **Wetland State Park- Jamie Benjamin:** In this PBL webquest, students are asked to formulate the necessary questions to analyze a site for possible wetland reclamation. Students will be given one of three roles: biologist, chemist, or geologist when investigating these questions. Students will then be asked to formulate a proposal of necessary considerations for the Wetland State Park.


 * [|Pesky Pathogens Webquest]** - John Abbott: In this PBL webquest students are told that their town has been selected to receive a p4 containment lab that will contain at least one of three different types of harmful pathogens. It is the students job to research the three different pathogens and their associated diseases and produce a set of policies that the town could implement as safety precautions. The students will be producing two papers, one individual research paper, and a group paper about their policies with a rationale.

Rain forest Reduction **Rain forest Reduction - Bill Serritella** - In this PBL Web Quest, students are told they are part of a major science company contracted by the United Nations to research problems correlated towards deforestation, and create solutions to the problems. It is the students job to research the four different jobs and their associated responsibilities to produce information the United Nations can use in implementing changes or limitations upon rain forest destruction. The students will be producing two papers, one individual paper composed of their job, and a group paper about their ideas for change with a rationale. A PowerPoint may be included for extra points.

Managing The White Tailed Deer Kimberly Weems- In this PBL Webquest, students will be writing and presenting a proposal for managing White Tailed Deer in Illinois. Due to a current bill being presented to the state, the students must find ways other than hunting to control the populations. This requires the students to take on 4 different roles: Illinois Habitat specialist, Deer specialist, other species specialist, and legislative specialist. This allows the students to look at the situation from 4 different perspectives. The students will be producing one proposal paper and one presentation that highlights their proposal. The presentation will be done in front of the "IDNR" board at NCHS.

Whooping Cough Invasion **Meghan Bagby**--In this PBL Web Quest students will work in groups of 3 to answer four questions based off of Whooping Cough. Students will use knowledge of bacteria, disease transmission, and vaccines to help solve this web quest. They must answer why Whooping Cough is making a come back? How can you treat Whooping Cough? How do you prevent Whooping Cough in a school? What does a school do in the event of an outbreak. Students will have a team that includes a doctor, microbiologist, and a public health professional/forensics to help create a proposal in the form of a PowerPoint presentation and formal written proposal to the CDC as to how they would propose a school prevent Whooping cough or handle an outbreak of Whooping Cough.

Settle This: Should We Settle on Mars? **Amanda Monaco--** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">In this PBL WebQuest students will work in teams of four and have to decide whether or not the United States government should fund the colonization of Mars and, in doing so, they will discover the realities of space travel and inhabiting another planet. Each student will be assigned a role on their team: a physiologist, psychologist, astronautical engineer, or atmospheric chemist. They will collect research on Mars, find supporting evidence for their stance on the issue, and will create a formal persuasive report and a PowerPoint presentation to share their ideas and offer their suggestions on whether or not colonizing Mars is a realistic goal that is worth funding.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Power Up! Nuclear Style **Amanda Dawson** - In this PBL the students will be posed with the question: Should McLean County construct a nuclear power plant? They will be working in groups of three to research the various issues that accompany the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant. As a group, the students will be given the task of writing a formal proposal to the county board in support or against the construction on the plant. They will also be presenting their proposal to the class as though they were in from of the county board.

Coral Reef in Crisis!- Ammanda Wisniewski - This PBL is for students in a 9th grade biology I class. Students will work in teams of 4 to discover the crisis of decline coral reefs are facing around the globe. Through this webquest students will discover the relationship between organisms and their environment and some of the negative impacts the human population has on the environment. Students also are able to use problem solving skills to formulate a plan of action. Students come up with certain steps that can be taken to help protect our ecosystems in the environment from danger and possible extinction.

Outbreak! "Superbug" in Normal! Carrie Simonson - In this PBL the students will work in teams of three and develop a Public Health Pamphlet and Public Service Announcement that will be used to inform the Bloomington- Normal Community about //Staphylococcus aureus// and MRSA. Each student will represent a different organization: Center for Disease Control, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and United States Environmental Protection Agency. Based on what organization they represent will depend on what research they conduct. They will collect research on S. aureus and MRSA, investigate other treatments, and explore the effects that hazardous waste on the environment.

No Dumping Here Landfill Project Prendergast, Michael- In this PBL students will split into groups of four to work out the best location for another landfill in McLean county. Students will use concepts from Chemistry, Ecology, and Earth Sciences to determine the best course of action. The messy part is that no one want the landfill to be opened near their homes and property. The science and reasoning must go over some big hurdles in discussion to read any sort of conclusion. They will also explore various methods of landfill design and suggest the ideal one for the needs of the county's residents.

Algae Taking Over! Chelsey O'Connor- In this PBL students will split into groups of four and investigate how blue-green algae is both beneficial and harmful. Blue-green algae has taken over Lake Harmony and each student will take on a role of either the town doctor, environmental ecologist, president of blugralgae, or nutritionist. At the end of the webquest, the students will debate within their teams about the removal of blue-green algae. This webquest explores an invader that is found in most ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Fountain of Youth- The Human Growth Hormone **Sandy, Emily**- This Web Quest allows for student to take on the the role of either the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Physician, or an Endocrinologist. As a team, they will take a stance on whether or not Human Growth Hormone Supplements should be sold as an over-the-counter answer to 'anti-aging'. They will keep track of important data in an Information Journal, create a group formal report, and present their findings in front of 'Congress'. Their suggestion to Congress will directly reflect their knowledge of the HGH, effects of drugs on the human body, and properties of pseudoscience.

http://savethecoralreefs.wikispaces.com/ **Sharp, Megan-** In this web-quest the students will be divided into groups of four and they are to come up with a proposal to save the coral reefs from environmental factors such as global warming. The students will be pitching the proposals to the Coral Reef Alliance, which is an non-profit organization that was developed solely to protect coral reefs. Within their groups each student will be bale to pick their own role that they will like to play. Once they have chosen their role, they will do independent research. Once each person has gathered sufficient amounts of information, they will then come together as a group and develop a proposal to save the coral reefs.

Making Science Movie! Kim,YoungHak- T<span style="font-family: '맑은 고딕';">his PBL Web Quest allows students to investigate the human body functions that occur over their lifetime. Students have typically learned about human body systems separately. Students need to integrate human organ roles and biology concepts. From the project, they can understand that human organs are very interconnected and work together in living things.

<span style="font-family: '맑은 고딕';">Insect Invasion! Anastasia Flanagan <span style="font-family: '맑은 고딕';">This PBL web quest looks at the issues involved with controlling an agricultural pest. The students will be required to research different methods of control, decide on the best method to manage the pest population, and present their discovery to the class. Throughout the process they will be asked to look at factors other than ways that the pest can be controlled, but also the affect that it will have on the human populations, and the ecosystem as a whole.

<span style="font-family: '맑은 고딕';">Stranded on an Island **Arianna Medema**

This PBL is an effective tool for allowing students to explore concepts in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry through guided inquiry while also improving their research, collaboration, and presentation skills. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">They are solving an intrinsically interesting problem without one definite answer, which gives incentive to figure out the science involved in order to reach their own objectives, which are survival on the island and figuring out a way to signal for help. I hope this PBL is successful in your classroom, and look forward to any feedback you may have to improve this five day inquiry based science lesson. Enjoy!

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hooked on Hookworms! **Patrick Murphy** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This PBL is an effective webquest that introduces students to the concepts of Biology, Anatomy, Physiology. They must do research into the controversial story of the Hookworm, and how the organism is helping some people with allergies. Solving this problem will take about 4 days. Students who would have typically just learned about blood cell types and/or parasites that plague certain organisms, can now learn about both in one activity. I think this activity is very interesting and I hope you all do too.