Problem Based Learning – The Aalborg (University) Model

Problem Based Learning – The Aalborg (University) Model

Seminar by Ditte Kolbaek, Assistant Professor, Aalborg University, Denmark

With roots dating back to Dewey, (1933), Piaget (1974), Lewin (1948), PBL in Denmark has been practiced since the 1970’ies. That dialogue, reflection and collaboration are important elements in students’ learning in education is well established, and Aalborg University integrates this by working with PBL. The Aalborg PBL model assumes that students learn best when applying theory and research based knowledge in their work with an authentic problem. At the same time, the model supports students in the development of their communication and cooperation competences, and in acquiring the skills required when taking an analytical and result-oriented approach. Literature highlights several advantages in PBL: due largely to its power to stimulate critical, reflective and creative thinking, learning in PBL is meaningful; moreover it accentuates student centeredness, their active participation and the students’ authentic ways to collaborate and create knowledge. The role of the teacher changes when the pedagogy is founded in PBL, because the focus changes from “delivering knowledge” to “facilitating knowledge creation”. Consequently the teacher delivers fewer presentations instead he/she supervises the students’ learning processes. Ditte Kolbaek will present the basic principles of PBL the Aalborg Model, the changed role of both the students and the teachers.

Ditte Kolbaek, email: dk@learning.aau.dk; mobile +45 23831601

Assistant professor, research fields: Organizational learning and University Pedagogy. Ditte Kolbaek is theoretically founded in practice theory, and she is a methodological researcher experienced in Design-Based-Research and qualitative methods such as case studies, ethnography, field observations, interview face-to-face or online. Before attending Aalborg University, Ditte was Manager of Organizational Learning at Oracle EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) for 10 years. Ditte Kolbaek has more than 30 years of experience in teaching and pedagogically she is founded in problem based learning.