PBL from the teachers' perspective

Abstract

The background of the project ’Problem Based Learning in Environmental Sciences' was a dissatisfaction with the lack of inspiring connections between current research and undergraduate education. The PBL approach was adopted in order to raise the level of activity in undergraduate learning. Another reason was the emphasis on problem orientation in PBL which includes an important proportion of interdisciplinarity in finding appropriate solutions to environmental problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of PBL in environmental education from the teachers' perspective. Seven teachers were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and subject to a qualitative analysis. The teachers were in general positive to continue to work with the PBL program. They appreciated the closer contact with the students. Difficulties experienced comprise a lack of consensus amongst the teachers and lack of time for discussion and planning during the project. The teachers conceived of the essence of PBL either from a learning perspective or a teaching perspective. Characteristic of the learning perspective is a focus on the students' learning process, while in the teaching perspective focus is on the methodological teaching aspects of PBL. There were also two different perspectives on the teacher's role as a tutor in PBL, that are categorised either as a supportive role or a directive role. Characteristic of the supportive role is an integrated view of the tutors' role. The students' activity, responsibility and influence on the education was emphasised. The supportive tutor's role was mainly focusing the group process. The directive tutor's role were characterised by a restricted view or uncertainty of the teacher's role in PBL. The different ways of conceiving PBL may explain some of the experienced difficulties amongst the teachers.