Aull-Hyde, RhondaIlvento, Thomas W.2004-10-072004-10-072003-01http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/117The average adult can concentrate for only about eight to ten minutes during an hour-long lecture. Thus, students’ ability to absorb information may be seriously impeded if we college professors talk nonstop. One alternative to the traditional “chalk and talk” instructional method is problem-based learning (PBL) – an instructional approach using real world problems as a format for students to acquire critical thinking, problem solving and group interaction skills. We describe how we transformed a two-course sequence in research methods into a problem-based-learning format. Student-reported benefits of the PBL approach include the need for higher-order thinking, improved group interaction skills, relevance of course material to real world situations, higher motivation and an overall higher level of class enjoyment.79642 bytesapplication/pdfen-USProblem-based learning (PBL)EducationCritical thinkingStaff Paper