Ryan and Problem Based Learning

Having used Problem Based Learning in my classroom, I found Ryan's article interesting if a bit outdated. Although it requires more time than traditional teaching methods, problem based learning is an excellent way to introduce mathematical concepts, particularly in Geometry, where so much of what we do can be represented physically.

Although Ryan's use of e-Talk and Hypercard is dated, the ideas and goals presented are still valid and achievable using current technology. To illustrate this point, I'll use the "Tower Wars" project I do for Geometry and include a few plans I have to update the project for the 21st century.

The idea behind the project is for students to build the tallest tower (that remains structurally sound) given 50 popsicle sticks and certain restrictions (types of adhesives, other materials, etc). The first time I assigned the project, I simply gave the students the rules, let them put themselves in groups, and gave a due date. The second time around, sensing a need for more structure and the opportunity to teach additional skills, I implemented two more "stages" to the project.

The first stage required each group to submit a blueprint of the tower they were designing, with three different angles of views and notes on the design specifics. The second stage required students to build a digital proposal similar to the blueprint using an online Ajax-based application and submit their proposal to me in PDF format. I found that requiring these two extra pieces served two benefits: 1) it required students to build a 21st century skill set by forcing them to learn and use a software program that they were not familiar with and 2) it forced them to spend more time planning and designing their towers.

My ideas for the future fall in line with what Ryan was suggesting in the article. My main goal is to improve collaboration. Currently this is the greatest roadblock that the students encounter. Because this project falls during our surface area and volume units, there is not a great deal of time for work to be done in class, therefore most work is done independently after school. Most of the students in my Geometry class are sophomores and do not have driving licenses. Face to face collaboration is hard for the groups to achieve and most often, one group member does the majority of the work. My plan is to set up some sort of online collaboration solution where students can synchronously or asynchronously work on the design of the project. Although Ryan's hypercard solution is outdated and limited, there are several solutions that I am looking into integrating into this project.

References: RYAN, C., & KOSCHMANN, T. (1994). THE COLLABORATIVE LEARNING LABORATORY: A TECHNOLOGY-ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING. IN RECREATING THE REVOLUTION: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15TH ANNUAL NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL COMPUTING CONFERENCE (NECC) (PP. 160-167). BOSTON, MA.