Learning Styles and Problem Based Learning (PBL)

There are many learning styles and different approaches that students apply in their
learning. Students usually choose the learning style that best fits their learning or even mix
different styles for different types of subjects.

My learning style is usually visual learning. I usually picture new vocabulary in my mind,
get someone to show me how to make things work, prefer charts and diagrams more than written
information, read full text then summarize with a diagram or table, and watch videos about any
skill or lesson I want to learn.

PBL is one of the learning styles which is student-centered. It depends on working to solve
a problem. It is very different from direct learning method in which a teacher presents facts and
concepts to students. PBL strengthen students' research skills, critical thinking and problem-
solving abilities.

As a student of medicine college, I study scientific subjects. Scientific researches and

theories mainly depend on Solving problems. Even the scientific method of thinking starts with
identifying the problem. That's why PBL really fits on my learning style.

Steps of PBL

1.Identify and clarify unfamiliar terms

2.Define the problems
3.‘Brainstorming’: Explore pre-existing knowledge
4.Generate hypotheses and possible mechanisms
5.Formulate learning objectives
6.Self study
7.Re-evaluation and application of new knowledge to the problem; Assessment, Feedback and
Reflection.

Reema Alamri ID: 441004036

 PBL helps students gain and keep important skills; not only learning skills but also social
ones.It helps students to search and study within a real-world learning experience. Through PBL,
students acquire problem solving skills, and develop critical thinking which is very important for
future life of the learner in addition to time-management skills.

Advantages of PBL

PBL provides:

- Real-life experiences.

- Long-term ( durable) knowledge and skills

- More room for independent discussion

- Team work as well as personal skills

PBL Disadvantages

- Time wasting.

- Not flexible for theoritical learning

- A problem maybe related to other problems

In conclusion, there are various styles and approaches for learning. PBL is one of these
effective learning style, yet it depends on the type of subject and the learner. So when applied, be
sure it is applied the right way.

Reema Alamri ID: 441004036

Reference

Duch, B. J., Groh, S. E, & Allen, D. E. (Eds.). (2001). The power of problem-based
learning. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Education technology (n.d) Problem-Based Learning (PBL).[web document]

Available from: https://educationaltechnology.net/problem-based-learning-pbl/
[Accessed 8 January 2020].

Glossary (n.d) Problem-Based Learning (PBL).[web document].

Available from: https://sites.google.com/site/glossary2019/p/problem-based-
learning-pbl [Accessed 24 March 2019].

Reema Alamri ID: 441004036