ABSTRACT: This case study involved year 9 students carrying out project work in biology
via problem-based learning. The purpose of the study was to (a) find out how students
approach and work through ill-structured problems, (b) identify some issues and challenges
related to the use of such problems, and (c) offer some practical suggestions on the implementation
of problem-based project work. Data sources included observation and field
notes, students’ written documents, audiotapes and videotapes of students at work, and student
interviews. The findings showed that several students initially experienced difficulties
in identifying a problem themselves but after discussing with family and friends, were able
to overcome this initial barrier and subsequently formulated personally meaningful problems
for investigation. The ill-structured problems stimulated students to pose questions
which charted their courses of action, leading to independent inquiry. Students were led
to investigate multidisciplinary elements beyond the boundaries of typical school science,
and also learned about different modes of inquiry. The issues and challenges identified
included identifying a problem for investigation; asking questions to negotiate the learning
pathway; deciding what areas to pursue, given a multitude of possibilities; and figuring out
how to extract relevant information from the available mass. Implications of the findings for
instructional practice are discussed.
ABSTRACT: This case study involved year 9 students carrying out project work in biologyvia problem-based learning. The purpose of the study was to (a) find out how studentsapproach and work through ill-structured problems, (b) identify some issues and challengesrelated to the use of such problems, and (c) offer some practical suggestions on the implementationof problem-based project work. Data sources included observation and fieldnotes, students’ written documents, audiotapes and videotapes of students at work, and studentinterviews. The findings showed that several students initially experienced difficultiesin identifying a problem themselves but after discussing with family and friends, were ableto overcome this initial barrier and subsequently formulated personally meaningful problemsfor investigation. The ill-structured problems stimulated students to pose questionswhich charted their courses of action, leading to independent inquiry. Students were ledto investigate multidisciplinary elements beyond the boundaries of typical school science,and also learned about different modes of inquiry. The issues and challenges identifiedincluded identifying a problem for investigation; asking questions to negotiate the learningpathway; deciding what areas to pursue, given a multitude of possibilities; and figuring outhow to extract relevant information from the available mass. Implications of the findings forinstructional practice are discussed.
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