Problem-Based Learning

The Seven-Step Process

(7-Jumps)
Prepared by
Prof. M. Saleh
PhD (Pharma), Msc. (Ped.), MHPE (Ed.)

Step 1: Clarification of Terms

Required time: 5 minutes
Tasks:

- Read the PBL scenario carefully

- Clarify all the terms that are not
clear

Typical questions:
I dont know what means
I dont understand what .. Could mean in this
context

Step 1: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

To find a common language, to clear
up any confusion
What to avoid at this stage?:
To look beyond the meaning of
words

Step 2: Identification of the

problem and its parts:
Required time: 5- 10 minutes
Tasks: - Go through the PBL scenario
- Identify the main problem and
all its aspects
Typical questions:
What is this about?
What else do we have to
consider?

Step 2: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To identify the problem in all its
dimensions
- Only look at the problem and its
related aspects
What to avoid at this stage?:
- To come up with explanations or
causes

Step 3: BrainstormingActivation of prior knowledge,

proposal of hypotheses
Required time: 30- 45 minutes
Tasks:

- Activate and bring in all prior K.

- Explain and interpret to find
preliminary answers to the
problem

Step 3: (cont.)

Typical Statements:
I have read somewhere that..
I could imagine that.
I think that.
Maybe it could be possible that.

Try your best to probe the scenario using

questions starting by: What?,
Why?, Where?, How?

Step 3: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To map the field of possible
explanations
- To develop preliminary hypotheses
What to avoid at this stage?:
- To prioritize or discard certain
ideas (all contributions are equally
important in step 3)

Step 4: Review & Structure

Required time: 20- 25 minutes
Tasks:
- Go through your hypotheses and put the
ones that belong together in one group
(testing and sorting)
- Find connections between different
hypotheses
- Set priorities and define the key
hypotheses

Step 4: (cont.)

Tasks (cont.):
- Examine contradictions
- Add further explanations where
needed
- Discard irrelevant hypotheses
Typical Statements:
This and that go together because
A and B refer to the same problem
We have explained X, but we still need
an explanation for.

Step 4: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To give structure and priority to your
hypotheses
What to avoid at this stage?:
- To leave the reviewing work to just 1
or 2 students

Step 5: Definition (& Listing) of

the learning issues?
Required time: 20 minutes
Tasks:
- Examine the output from step 4
- Rephrase your hypotheses in the
form of questions

Step 5: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To define the information needed

What to avoid at this stage?:

- Questions that are too general or too
vague

Step 6: Self-Directed study (SDL)

Required time: As scheduled
Tasks:
- Each student works individually on
the questions generated in step 5 and
is prepared to share his/her findings
with whole group during step 7

Step 6: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To fill the information gap identified in
step 5
What to avoid at this stage?:
- To bypass or forget about the agreed
learning issues
- To rely on the other team members
instead of doing ones own research

Step 7: Reporting, Synthesis,

and Applying acquired K.
Required time: 90-110 minutes:
Tasks:
- Students report back to the group and
exchange the information they have
found
- They refer to their sources
- They verify or correct their solutions, if
necessary
- They apply their solutions to the
original problem and see whether they
can solve it

Step 7: (cont.)

Aim of this stage:

- To get an overview of our common K.

What to avoid at this stage?:

- To hold back with ones own findings