Cases: Problem Based Learners - Julian Pearce

Keywords
Problem-based learning; learning contexts; authentic learning; undergraduate education

Investigating problem-based learning and it's application online and in the contemporary learner context.

Click on the microphone to hear the entire case study or select relevant sections from the text below. [AUDIO TRANSCRIPT]

Julian Pearce is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Julian came to Deakin from a background in intensive care nursing about a decade ago and his project as a 2003 Online Teaching and Learning Fellow was focussed on a complex acute care nursing unit (HNN 306) of which he is unit chair

The project was situated within the faculty’s implementation of problem-based learning and Julian’s personal pedagogical approaches and development for the unit .

As with many contemporary academics, Julian is concerned about the changing contexts of his students and he talks about the challenges of working with a cohort who have many commitments outside of their full-time study:

“a vast majority of the students… also work jobs as well and that has a great threat to a problem-based learning curriculum”

In light if this Julian’s project looked essentially at how using Deakin Studies Online (DSO) can assist and enhance problem-based learning in this context , that is, meeting the needs of the student cohort as they really exist.

The project covered an extensive theoretical base with a literature review (see Resources in right hand panel), of online learning and problem-based learning . This led to a number of ideas of how DSO could be used, including the modularisation of trigger material allowing for learning experiences to be structured, approximating authentic workplace experiences through timed and selective release.

Deeper learning and flexibility for students were at the fore of Julian’s investigations and this, combined with the need for authentic learning and meeting workplace needs, gives an interesting and valuable perspective of online learning a practical academic discipline.