As problem-based learning (PBL) is becoming more and more popular, there is also a
growing interest in developing and using technologies in the implementation of
PBL. However, teachers may have difficulties to design and deliver a pedagogically
well-designed and technically smoothly executable online or blended PBL process
on their own because they lack appropriate expertise in learning theories and design
methods as well as a deeper understanding of the potential affordances of the
available technologies. From this premise, we are committed to developing and
testing methods and tools to support the design and delivery of online or hybrid
PBL processes with high flexibility and a low threshold of usage requirements. This
paper presents a technical approach to develop a web-based PBL application that
supports both authoring and run-time usage. In comparison with other tools and
technical approaches, it is concluded that a combined use of a model-driven
approach and semi-structured data management appears to be a promising
approach to effectively and efficiently support the authoring, delivering, and
execution of design-time and run-time PBL processes.