Problem Based Learning: A Classroom Journey

Teachers and students from four South Australian primary schools stepped right out of their comfort zones, to participate in this semester-long problem-based learning program. Students describe this style of learning as challenging, in a fun way that builds up their skills for their whole life. Teachers talk about their fear of going where the students led them … and of the resulting success, not only in themselves, what they learned and the way they taught … but also the success of their students, which at the end of the day is what you want as a teacher. They reflect positively on their experiences working with industry partners who presented authentic problems to their students and asked them to help solve their problems … and talk about how student engagement levels rose ‘ten-fold’ because they could see the relevance of what they were learning.