Risbo offers a two-day PBL Basic Training course to teachers wanting to learn about the method of problem-based teaching. PBL is a student-centred teaching form, in which active learning and the student's independence are central. During this training course teachers become actively familiar with working with PBL and we devote attention to acquiring insights into the PBL process, the various roles within it and the function of the required teaching material.

Target group and required prior knowledge
The PBL Basic Training is intended for (experienced) teachers wishing to offer their subject in a problem-based way. We assume that participants have experience in providing teaching and have general didactic skills. Following PBL Basic Training is required if you wish to take part in Advanced PBL Training, in which we work with (re)designing the subject (and the teaching material) in a problem-based way.

Objectives/competences
After completing the training participants will be able to:

• Name the basic principles of problem-based learning and explain their operation in practice.
• Describe the process of the seven steps in problem-based education.
• Name the various student roles in the steps.
• Support students in developing skills such as leading a discussion, making notes (on the smartboard), listening and summarising, discussing, providing and receiving feedback.
• Supervise students in a process-oriented way and intrinsically in the various steps of the process: stimulate students to contribute actively, pose supporting questions to the group, provide confirmation, observe and analyse the group process.
• Give students feedback in a constructive manner, evaluate the group process and assess students individually on their professional behaviour.
• Spot frequently-occurring problem situations in a teaching group and take adequate action for them.
• Describe the function of problems and tutor instructions in the PBL process and state the requirements they must meet.
• Recognise different types of problems and state the strong and weak elements of them.
• Connect as a teacher in the instruction for tutors, with the role of the tutor in the various steps of the PBL process.

Contents and form
The training takes two days. The first day of the course is an introduction after which the participants experience the process of problem-based teaching actively. On the second day the emphasis is on specific tutor skills in problem-based teaching and acquiring insight into the operation of problems and tutor instructions.

The training course is based on social learning theory principles. During the training we make use of theoretical instruction combined with video clips and simulations. Based on the seven steps which make up the PBL process, we devote attention to all skills important in PBL, both for students and tutors. For teachers it's important to know precisely how the process of the students in the teaching groups runs, what the various roles are and what students and tutors need to be able to fulfil their roles well in each step.

During the course the participants acquire experience in all the skills through practical exercises and assignments, and the different roles within it. We simulate teaching groups, in which the participants themselves play the roles of student and tutor. Each simulation is evaluated, with attention paid to the execution of the various roles, the required instruction and what could be success factors or pitfalls. We also consider video examples of situations which might occur in a teaching group, and we discuss examples of various types of problems.


Evaluation and certification
On conclusion the participants will receive a certificate of participation.