Perceptions of undergraduate students of a Problem Based Learning (PBL) curriculum

Problem Based Learning (PBL) has been utilised in many health and medical courses nationally and internationally, including veterinary science. At Charles Sturt University (CSU) a PBL program was designed to assist in the development in our students of graduate attributes, including communication and team skills, problem solving, critical thinking, self and peer evaluation and self-directed learning. PBL is a learning philosophy whereby students investigate a problem, undertake self-directed learning whilst researching the problem, and then apply this new information to the problem in an attempt to progress or resolve the situation. This necessitates that students direct what they will learn; academic staff direct the students by providing relevant ‘triggers’ written into the disclosures given to students.