ESPEC chamber company, ask tom Patterson National Sales /On-the -Job-Training

Problem-based learning

We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities

brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.









Problem solving Finding creative solutions

Adaptive decision making

Managing by exception Managing stress Motivating yourself

Problem based learning ◄

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an exciting alternative
to traditional ON-THE-JOB learning.

With PBL, your customer presents you with a problem


Since you are not handed "content", your learning becomes active in the sense that you discover and work with content that you determine to be necessary to solve the problem.


PBL, acts as facilitator and mentor, rather than a source
of "solutions."

Problem based learning will provide you with opportunities to

examine and try out what you know discover what you need to learn.

develop your people skills for achieving higher performance in teams

improve your communications skills state and defend positions with evidence and sound argument

become more flexible in processing information and meeting obligations

practice skills that you will need

A Summary of Problem-Based Learning:


This is a simplified model--more detailed models are referenced below.

The steps can be repeated and recycled.


Steps two through five may be repeated and reviewed as new information becomes available and redefines the problem.


Step six may occur more than once--especially when customers place emphasis on going beyond "the first draft."

1. Explore the issues:


Your customer introduces an "ill-structured" problem to you.

2. List "What do we know?"


What do you know to solve the problem?

3. Develop, and write out, the problem statement in your own words:




4. List out possible solutions

5. List actions to be taken with a timeline

6. List "What do we need to know?"

Research the knowledge and data that will support your solution

You will need to information to fill in missing gaps.


7. Write up your solution with its supporting documentation, and submit it.

Presenting and defending your conclusions:


The goal is to present not only your conclusions, but the foundation upon which they rest.


Thomas Edison took pride in unsuccessful experiments as part of his journey to successful outcomes!

9. Celebrate your work!