Problem-based Learning
Spring 2006
In Designing Problem-based Learning Environments (formerly known as Designing Constructivist Learning Environments) course, we learned by doing. This course was taught by David Jonassen, Ph.D.
Final Project
For my team's project, we created a learning enivronment to be used in any undergraduate or graduate special education course that includes a focus on early intervention services.
Since our learners are new to early intervention and they lack their own cases, we designed our learning environment around the case of one toddler, Michael. Learners moved through a series of activities by using the flowchart of the early intervention Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) process.
Case-based reasoning suggests that learning is most effective when learners design and develop their own activities. With this approach, we envision that learners would develop their own activities once they understand the process after using the environment.
For example, after reading a new case as a starting point, learners could use our environment's flow of activities as a template.
Learners would write their own first-person perspectives from the people involved in the case. They could then chose their team members and justify their choices. Finally, they could design a curriculum with appropriate activities for the child in the case.