An effective problem is the heart of problem-based learning (PBL). Problems play an important role in achieving learning outcomes, assessing learning process, providing a learning context, stimulating thinking skills, and catering for teaching and learning activities. Although a number of criteria that characterize effective PBL problems have been identified in the literature, crafting problems according to the criteria is a challenging task for these problem crafters in most disciplines, especially engineering. The aim of this chapter is to propose a PBL problem crafting framework and describe techniques to craft engineering problems. The problem crafting framework consists of five interrelated principles representing the characteristics of effective problems which have been identified and extracted from literature articles. These principles are aligned with the objectives of how to use problems as the basis for learning. As a guide, a sample problem is included to demonstrate the technique, and how the problem has been mapped to the five principles of effective engineering problems. Feedbacks from students are included to put forth their perspectives on the effectiveness of these engineering problems.
Effective Problem Based Learning Presented in a Blended System: One Step toward Adaptive Learning
