Promoting Learning with Alien Rescue

The design of Alien Rescue is informed by research on problem-based learning (PBL), an innovative instructional approach in which learning occurs as a result of students' efforts to solve a complex problem. Instruction begins with the presentation of a problem situation. Students work in teams to identify problem constraints, form hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and develop a solution plan.

Overview on PBL

McMaster University Chemical Engineering Problem-based Learning
http://www.chemeng.mcmaster.ca/pbl/pbl.htm

Problem Based Learning at Maricopa
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/pbl/

Problem-Based Learning: An Introduction
http://www.ntlf.com/html/pi/9812/pbl_1.htm

Problem-Based Learning: A Paradigm Shift
http://www.med-ed-online.org/f0000003.htm

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem-based_learning

Study Guides & Strategies
http://www.studygs.net/pbl.htm

Links to PBL projects in a variety of fields

Problem-Based Learning at the University of Delaware: Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Criminal Justice, Physics
http://www.udel.edu/pbl/problems/

A description of PBL and the essentials necessary to make a curriculum change to PBL
http://www.pbli.org/core.htm

Queen’s University School of Medicine Problem-Based Learning - Medicine http://meds.queensu.ca/medicine/pbl/pblhome.htm

Problem-based Learning in Biology
http://www.saltspring.com/capewest/pbl.htm

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Center for Problem-Based Learning
http://www.imsa.edu/team/cpbl/problem.html

Center for Problem-Based Learning, Samford University
http://www.samford.edu/ctls/problem_based_learning.html