Problem-Based Learning Applied to Medical Education

by Howard S. Barrows

This book is designed for those medical teachers that either wish to consider problem-based learning as an educational method, have decided on problem-based learning and need guidelines for its design and development, or are involved in a problem-based learning curriculum and want to consider ways for improving their curriculum. The author's prior books, Problem-Based An Approach to Medical Education co-authored with Robyn Tamblyn (1980) and How to Design a Problem-Based Curriculum for the Preclinical Years (1985) have been used extensively over the years by teachers both in and out of medical education interested in or involved in problem-based learning. Now that more has been learned about problem-based learning through the experience of many additional medical schools that have undertaken the method and from an increasing number of studies related to problem-based learning these books are out-of-date. Changes in this book are also based on the author's continuing work and experience with problem-based learning as a teacher and as an educational consultant. Individual chapters deal with many aspects of problem-based learning such objectives, problem and curriculum design, integrating problem-based learning with other learning methods, choosing problems, assessment, applying problem-based learning to clerkships, variables that can alter the effectiveness of problem-based learning, converting to problem-based learning, criteria for analyzing a problem-based learning curriculum and the evaluation of problem-based learning as an instructional method. Although designed primarily for teachers in medical schools, this book offers much of value for teachers in other disciplines.

147 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1980

Reviews

[Tayler Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The philosophical and technical origin story for any Problem Based Learning course. The "PBL bible" if you will. Going to try to incorporate a mini P4 into a gamified experience for premeds. wish me luck.