Alice Porter
School of Public Health and Community Medicine
University of Washington, Seattle Campus

The Challenge

A few years ago, Fred Connell, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and faculty members in Health Services were having drinks at a local restaurant when the discussion turned towards the recent Institute of Medicine report that criticized schools of public health for teaching students too much theoretical information to the detriment of providing students with practical skills for working in the real world. The faculty decided to take on this challenge of graduating students with solid work skills. They brainstormed and decided to explore problem-based learning, a methodology where students are presented with "real-life" scenarios to solve. Alice Porter, the Associate Director of Community-Oriented Public Health Practice, visited Drexel University, the only other school of public health to use problem-based learning, to find out more. She learned that the students' practicum advisors raved about how well-prepared the students were for working in the field, and she came back enthused.

The Solution

The Health Services faculty decided to institute a problem-based learning program for their two year Master's degree program, Public Health Community-Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP). Faculty members wrote 56 cases that present scenarios students may encounter at work.

Porter felt students needed a way to exchange information online for to the problem-based learning program to be successful. After exploring their options, they decided to use Catalyst's VirtualCase too, which allows students to read the case descriptions, and post their findings so other students can learn from them.

Each cohort of COPHP students is divided into two groups of approximately six students. The groups devote three class meetings to working through each case with a faculty member facilitating the process. During the first class meeting, students read the case, identify issues, and delegate tasks to group members to pursue before the next class. Group members post the results of their research in VirtualCase the night before the next meeting, so that the others can digest all of the information before class. During the next class meeting, they present what they've found to their group, and then learn more about the case. They repeat the process for the third class meeting, in which they resolve the case. At the end of the year, the students receive a copy of all of the cases and group work on a CD.

Pros and Cons of Problem-based Learning

Problem-based learning provides students with important skills. Students learn to present their findings both orally and in writing in a way that is useful to other people.

However, not everyone is suited to problem-based learning. Some students thrive in this learning environment, while others absolutely hate it. And there are also some tradeoffs. For example, the students come away from the program with less conventional wisdom. They miss information they might glean from reading text books and articles, and attending a professor's lectures. In addition, the group process can be difficult, frustrating, and time consuming.

Porter explained that success in the program requires a certain type of individual. To identify the students most suited for the program, applicants meet with current students and faculty, learn about the problem-based learning methodology, and if possible sit in on some classes. By then, the applicants should have a good idea if they would thrive or flail in a problem-based learning environment. In addition, each new cohort has a week-long orientation to the program.

How Well Does PBL Work?

Is the program working? Will the students fare better in the real work world? The Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR) has evaluated the current students in the program and found the results to be favorable. The real test will be how they fare in the working world. The first cohort is graduating this year, and the COPHP plans to keep in touch with them to see how they fare. Stay tuned...