University of Delaware

Workshops on Problem-Based LearningAmerican University of Beirutwww.udel.edu/pbl/AUB

Integrating Information Technology and PBL

Institute for TransformingUndergraduate Education

George Watsonghw@udel.edu

The Way It Was... 1973 2004

Computation

graphing calculators,laptops,

gigabytes and gigahertz,ubiquitous computing

The Way It Was... 1973 2004

Communication

e-mail,voice-mail,chatrooms,

FAX,pagers,

cell phones,text messaging,

instant messaging,wireless connectivity

The Way It Was... 1973 2004

Collections

Online Information:web catalogs,

networked databases,Britannica Online, online newspapers,

course websites,CMS

Education and the Cs of Technology:

Computation and Calculation

Communication and Collaboration

Collections and Connections

Given the amazing advances in technology

and the dramatic change in the first-year experience,

Can we afford to continue teaching the way we were taught?

An important question:

IntegratingInformation Technology

and PBL

Active Learning ObjectivesCourses should:1. Be student-centered and encourage students to “learn to

learn.”2. Provide opportunities to think critically and to analyze and

solve problems.3. Assist students in developing skills in gathering and

evaluating information.4. Provide experience working cooperatively in teams and

small groups.5. Help students acquire versatile and effective communication

skills.6. Offer a variety of learning experiences.7. Apply technology effectively where it will enhance learning.

Information Technology ObjectivesStudents should:1. engage in electronic collaboration. 2. use and create structured electronic documents. 3. do technology-enhanced presentations. 4. use appropriate electronic tools for research and

evaluation. 5. use spreadsheets and databases to manage information. 6. use electronic tools for analyzing quantitative and

qualitative data. 7. identify major legal, ethical, and security issues in

information technology. 8. have a working knowledge of IT platforms. Adapted from Technology Across the Curriculum, George Mason U.

collaboration

structureddocuments

enhancedpresentations

research &evaluation

managinginformation

analyzingdata

cooperativegroups

critical thinkingproblem solving

gathering &evaluating info

student-centeredlearning to learn

varied learningexperiences

communicationskills

IT6

IT5 IT4

IT3IT2

IT1

AL1

AL2

AL3

AL4

AL5

AL6

Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives

collaboration

structureddocuments

enhancedpresentations

research &evaluation

managinginformation

analyzingdata

cooperativegroups

critical thinkingproblem solving

gathering &evaluating info

student-centeredlearning to learn

varied learningexperiences

communicationskills

IT6

IT5 IT4

IT3IT2

IT1

AL1

AL2

AL3

AL4

AL5

AL6

Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives

collaboration

structureddocuments

enhancedpresentations

research &evaluation

managinginformation

analyzingdata

cooperativegroups

critical thinkingproblem solving

gathering &evaluating info

student-centeredlearning to learn

varied learningexperiences

communicationskills

IT6

IT5 IT4

IT3IT2

IT1

AL1

AL2

AL3

AL4

AL5

AL6

Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives

Web Sites andWeb Pages

Utilizing Online Resources

Executing websearches effectively

Information forsolving problems

Evaluating onlineresources critically

Old thinking:The web is full ofmisinformation andbiased representationStay away!

New thinking:Engage and developcritical thinking skills.The Internet Challenge!