by Angelo H. Manalo M.D., MS Surg., FPCS, FICS
Former Director of Medical Education

What is PBL?

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a total approach to education. As defined by Dr. Howard Barrows and Ann Kelson of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, PBL is both a curriculum and a process. The curriculum consists of carefully selected and designed problems that demand from the learner acquisition of critical knowledge, problem solving proficiency, self-directed learning strategies, and team participation skills. The process replicates the commonly used systemic approach to resolving problems or meeting challenges that are encountered in life and career. Source

One of the primary features of Problem-Based Learning is that it is student-centered. “Student-centered” refers to learning opportunities that are relevant to the students, the goals of which are at least partly determined by the students themselves. This does not mean that the teacher abdicates her authority for making judgments regarding what might be important for students to learn; rather, this feature places partial and explicit responsibility on the students’ shoulders for their own learning. Creating assignments and activities that require student input presumably also increases the likelihood of students being motivated to learn. University of California, Irvine.

In the Philippines, Mindanao State University takes prode in being one of the first 2 schools that started PBL in the country in 1994.

How do we do PBL at MSU?

Ours is both horizontally and vertically integrated PBL approach so both basic and clinical learning issues are tackled with the case.

A case is presented to the student in a simulated patient encounter manner with the faculty acting as the patient and the student acting as the doctor. This is started during the very first module where the student has very little idea of how to do a history and physical examination. We have no physical diagnosis course. But using their inherent intelligence and intuition, they are able to come up with something which is subsequently analyzed by the group. Of course, this triggers further study and reading so by the next case they are much better prepared and they continue to improve as the case progresses and their fund of knowledge increases.

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