The effects of problem-based learning on problem solving.

Annotation provided by Chris Webber:

Gallagher, Shelagh A. (Fall, 1992). The effects of problem-based learning on problem solving. Gifted Child Quarterly, 36(4),

This is a very interesting article because at the time of its publication the effects of problem-based learning had not been thoroughly tested at the high school level. As a result, it is fascinating to see (having read about results in this area), the assumptions that the author predicts might happen, as a result of doing testing. The article is focused on how gifted children respond to problem based learning. The author conducted a 3 year study on how children responded to problem based learning.

“Very little research has yet been conducted on the effectiveness of the problem-based tutorial as an instructional strategy. Most of the research on problem-based learning to date has focused on the adjustment of faculty to an innovative technique” (196).

“If you want your students to appreciate the importance of problem finding in the overall problem-solving process, put them in the middle of a muddle! Immersing students inside an ill-structured problem is an effective way to help them understand the importance of knowing what the problem is before they run pell-mell to a solution” (195).