The Forum workshop earlier this week explored Problem Based Learning (PBL) and provided a fascinating and inspiring insight from the York Law School (YLS) into the realities of designing and delivering an entire curriculum with PBL at its heart. From the outset though the presenters were at pains to point out that this was not a “sales” pitch for PBL, nor was the approach discussed the only was that PBL can be delivered – this was just a discussion of how YLS have gone about implementing it and how it has worked out for them.

Jenny Gibbons, Scott Slorach and Richard Grimes, highlighted the approach that YLS has taken to delivering PBL. Weekly problems are devised spanning the core themes of the programme, engaging students with real life issues which integrate with the curriculum but transcend boundaries of module content. Students are introduced to the PBL process from the outset, developing transferable skills in problem solving, group work and collaboration that has significant impacts on graduate employability (and KIS data!)

The session attempted to address three core questions:

1. How much work is involved in creating resources to support PBL? The reality is that designing and developing well thought out and effective resources to support PBL is not a trivial task. Even when an entire department’s pedagogic approach is centred on a  well established PBL structure (right down to the design and layout of the building) and maintaining PBL resources to ensure they are up to date and reflect changes to law is a significant task. Much of this work comes from the amount of collaboration across the modules required to ensure that the problems and resources can be truly cross-curricula. However, Jenny et al clearly felt that this investment was clearly worth it to produce such a rich and effective learning experience.
2. Can the model adapt to change? In short yes, and it is continuing to do so, influenced by other disciplines, particularly in response to joint modules such as Law for Art Historians.
3. Can PBL support student learning? Ultimately this is clearly the key question and the answer seemed to be an emphatic “Yes!”. There is more detail on the rationale, challenges and benefits of PBL in the handouts provided (attached below) but the take home message seemed to be that this is well worth the effort and if you want to discuss your ideas for how PBL could be applied in your discipline then you should get in touch with Jenny, Scott or Richard from the Law School.

Handouts / resources from the session

• Why do we do PBL?/ PBL on a page – Simple outline of YLS’s rationale for PBL and how they structure the PBL process
• Challenges and Benefits of PBL