|
|
March
2000
All NDSU faculty,
administrators, and staff involved in teaching are invited to attend workshops
on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) on Friday, March 3 in the Century Theater.
Prof. George Watson of the University of Delaware will present two workshops,
one from 8 to 10 AM and the other from 1 to 3 PM. The basic principles
of PBL will be discussed at both sessions, but the two will cover different
advanced materials and examples, so that one may profitably attend either
session or both. An informal question and answer session is also planned
from 10:30 to 11:30 in the Century Theater. Prof. Watson will post some
of the workshop materials beforehand on http://www.udel.edu/inst/ndsu/.
PBL is an
instructional strategy that promotes active learning by setting students
to work in groups on significant, open-ended problems. In addition to learning
subject matter, students in PBL classes develop problem-solving skills,
self-directed learning, the ability to find and use appropriate resources,
critical thinking, facility with the computer, leadership skills, the ability
to work on a team, communication skills, and proactive thinking. PBL can
be used as a framework for individual modules, courses, programs, or whole
curricula. The University of Delaware is one of the nation's leaders in
implementing PBL, using it in several disciplines, for small and large
classes, from freshman to graduate level.
George Watson
is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University
of Delaware. He is a founding co-leader of Delaware's Institute for Transforming
Undergraduate Education (ITUE), which promotes reform of undergraduate
education through faculty development and course design, incorporating
active learning strategies and effective use of instructional technology.
ITUE's efforts to promote PBL were recognized with the 1999 Theodore M.
Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence for Faculty Development to Enhance Undergraduate
Teaching and Learning. Dr. Watson's research interests are in laser spectroscopy
and condensed matter physics; his recent course offerings include electromagetism
and electronics for engineering majors and science and technology courses
for non-science majors. In 1998 he received the Delaware Professor of the
Year award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
This workshop
is presented by the Next Generation Interactive Classroom (NGIC) Committee,
part of a Bush grant project to help implement teaching methods that enhance
students' learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
For further information about NGIC or the workshops, contact Doug Kurtze
in the physics department at 231-7048 (kurtze@plains) or Sudhir Mehta in
mechanical engineering at 231-7871 (mehta@badlands), or see http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mehta/bush/. |