A problem-oriented approach to represent and manage knowledge in PBL

Abstract

In traditional subject-based learning knowledge is well-structured and prepared in advance by the teachers before transferring in the form of a lecture presentation. However, the knowledge learned in problem-based learning (PBL) may be multi-disciplinary / ill-structured, constructed collaboratively by a small group of learners. It is challenge to support teachers and students in representing and managing knowledge in an online and hybrid PBL environment. This paper presents a problem-oriented knowledge representation and management method based on an analysis of technical requirements to support online and hybrid PBL. Adopting this approach we develop a PBL-specific whiteboard, a visualized knowledge representation tool supporting collaborative knowledge building in PBL. Through a combined use of a PBL scripting language and the PBL-specific whiteboard, the students can be guided and scaffold to construct and share a network of knowledge artifacts systematically as they progress through their various activities such as defining problems, identifying learning issues, proposing ideas, and improving their ideas. In this paper we demonstrate the technical feasibility of this approach by presenting the implementation of a web-based PBL application.