Case Study - The Wood and the Trees

Deliver the Program

Teach the sequence of activities

Your program might look something like this:

Session 1

Introduction

The Wood and Trees project overview
What you will learn
How you will learn
Problem Based Learning: the steps
How you will be assessed
Resources available
Learning contract and group/individual action plans
Working effectively in groups

Session 2

Step 1 Read and analyse the problem scenario
Step 2 List what is known
Step 3 Develop a problem statement
Step 4 List what is needed
Plan excursion to Museum: logistics of travel and bookings and setting of objectives and evaluation criteria

Session 3

Step 5 Gather information: internet, library,

Session 4

Step 5 Gather information: Museum excursion

Session 5

Step 5 Gather information: internet, library

Session 6, 7

Step 6 Analyse information
Step 7 Present findings: planning stage

Session 8

Step 7 Present findings: final presentations

Monitor learners progress through the course

Throughout the course you will need to monitor how students are progressing, if they are feeling comfortable with learning processes which may be new to them, and if they need any individual help with things such as getting better results with their web searches.

It’s also important to check on how group dynamics are working: be proactive here, as it’s easy to presume things are fine when they are terrible, with quiet students feeling lost and alienated!

Assess student performance

At the end of each session you an get students to look at the assessment summary devised at the beginning of the course, to take stock of how they are progressing and to make sure they are keeping evidence of their progress. Remind students that the assessment is not just an evaluation of the presentation, but of all the processes described in the assessment outline. You may try to find time to meet students individually to help them gather and present their assessment evidence.