Staff preparation for Problem Based Learning

Since its inception at McMaster University Medical School in Canada in the late 1960s, Problem Based Learning (PBL) curricula have been adopted by numerous faculties of medicine, dentistry, nursing and other health sciences, as well as agriculture, veterinary science, education, social work, engineering, architecture, business, law, economics,management, mathematics, education, introductory university science and other disciplines.The educational advantages claimed of PBL methods have been well documented and include increased student understanding and knowledge retention, essentially because learning is contextualised and applied. PBL is a highly structured learning activity which requires a large amount of planning and development, as well as facilitator training. PBL demands big changes in the way teachers fulfil their teaching roles.