MK: Some people might argue that my approach is convoluted. I would argue that students quite enjoy it because it’s like a puzzle. They must try to link the vignette with the dissertation. So it is pushing those higher end problem-solving skills if you like. Ultimately what they will do is come up with a list of learning objectives (LOs) and try to find the answers at home. What makes PBL different is that students may come up with LOs that the teacher did not expect. However, if you feel that they will benefit from these unexpected LOs, you encourage students to research them, too. In essence you think, “Oh, why not.” If the students want to find that out, let them.
If you give students explicit LOs as we often do in education, then we limit to a certain degree what students learn. By not declaring the learning outcomes, students may decide to research not only what you think they need, but also what they feel they need.