Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in Virtual Space:

This book reports the outcomes of an investigation §into discovering the qualitatively different ways §that students experience of Problem-based learning §(PBL) in virtual space. PBL is increasingly being §used in many fields including engineering §education. At the same time many engineering §education providers are turning to online distance §education. Unfortunately there is a dearth of §research into what constitutes an effective learning §experience for adult learners who undertake PBL §instruction through online distance education. Data §was collected from a course, which adopted the PBL §strategy and was delivered entirely in virtual §space. Students were asked to respond to open-ended §questions designed to elicit their learning §experience. Data was analysed using the §phenomenographical approach. Five qualitatively §different ways of experiencing PBL in virtual space §were discovered. Results indicate that the design of §students online learning experience was responsible §for making students aware of deeper ways of §experiencing PBL in virtual space. The outcomes §imply pedagogical strategies can be devised for §shifting students focus as they engage in virtual §PBL.