The investigation of the use of problem-based learning in Professional Degrees

Leaders in the field of professional education recognise that in the late twentieth century professional practice requires skills that cannot be developed in a traditional style of university course. It is generally advocated in the field of construction management that today's professionals need to be equipped with self-directed learning strategies to help them cope with the knowledge explosion of the last twenty years. Problem based learning is seen as one method of achieving this. The first section of this paper outlines a major investigation being undertaken into the area of problem based learning. The purpose of the study is to investigate the integrated problem based learning curriculum of the Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) course at the University of Newcastle (the first integrated program in the construction management area worldwide). The study will explore the philosophy, implementation and evolution of the program and position it in relation to current problem based learning theory and wider trends in higher education. The main thrust in this paper, however, is the critical analysis of contemporary developments in the area of problem based learning, its theoretical basis and the relationship to other educational theories.