© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

Instilling Employability Skills: A Problem Based Learning Approach

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

Vision & Mission

Bahrain Polytechnic to be a world class provider of applied higher education.

Vision

Bahrain Polytechnic produces professional and enterprising graduates with the 21st Century skills necessary for the needs of the community locally, regionally and internationally.

Mission

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February 2015

Producing Work Ready Graduates

•Well-designed work related problems stimulate learning to ensure students develop technical knowledge & skills plus employability skills

Problem Based Learning

• Educational activities integrate theoretical learning with its application in the workplace (industry projects, work experience, simulations)

Work Integrated Learning

• Generic Competencies: teamwork, problem solving, communication, initiative & enterprise, planning & organisation, self-management, learning & technology

Employability Skills

Wo

rk Re

ady G

radu

ates

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

Bahrain Polytechnic’s Employability Skills

Employability Skills describe generic competencies for effective participation in the work place.

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

Problem Based Learning (PBL) Barrows (1980) defined PBL as “the learning that results from the process of working towards the understanding of a resolution of a problem”

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

The PBL 7 step process

1. Setting the climate

2. Reaching a shared understanding of the

problem

3. Brainstorming

4. Formulating learning issues 5. Independent study

6. Developing a response

7. Presenting the outcome

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

Why PBL?

Teamwork

Self-directed

Problem solving

Lifelong learning

Critical thinking

Communication skills

(Hmelo-Silva, 2004; Tan, 2003)

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

Bahrain Polytechnic PBL Model

PBL pilot (2011)

Course Based PBL (2014-2019)

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February 2015

Future plans Tutor and Student perceptions of PBL

Theme Based PBL Model (2019 - onwards)

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

The Motorsport PBL Project

Engineering 1 year project

Introduces small problems throughout the year

Thank you…

© The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker’s, and not the QQA

February 2015

References Bahrain Polytechnic (2010). About us. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from: http://www.polytechnic.bh/default.asp?action=category&id=58

Barrows, H. and Tamblyn, R. (1980). Problem-based Learning: An Approach to Medical Education. New York: Springer.

Bennison, B., Hasan, F., & Huijers, H. (2012). Negotiating with Employers about PBL: Towards Authentic Assessment at Bahrain Polytechnic. Paper presented at CPBL Conference, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi.

Coutts, C., Huijser, H. & Almulla, H. (2012). A project management approach to sustainable PBL curriculum design implementation at Bahrain Polytechnic. In: 3rd International PBL Symposium: PBL and the Problematization of Teaching and Learning, 7-9 March 2012, Singapore.

Department of Education, Science and Training (2006). Employability skills for the future, a report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of Australia for the Department of Education, Science and Training, Canberra.

Hmelo-Silva C.E. (2004). Problem-Based Learning: What and How Do Students Learn? Educational Psychology Review, 16(3).

Huijser, H. & Hasan, J. (2012). Working towards innovative practitioners: Problem-based learning at Bahrain Polytechnic. In: 6th Quality Conference in the Middle East: Innovation-Based Competitiveness and Business Excellence, 30 Jan - 2 Feb 2012, Dubai, UAE.

Kek, M., & Huijser, H. (2011). The power of problem-based learning in developing critical thinking skills: Preparing students for tomorrow‘s digital futures in today‘s classrooms, Higher Education Research & Development, 30(3), 329-341.

Kolmos, A., Du, X., Holgaard, J. E., & Jensen, L. P. (2008). Facilitation in a PBL environment. Aalborg: UCPBL UNESCO Chair in Problem Based Learning.

Moore, I., & Poikela, S. (2011). Evaluating Problem-based Learning Initiatives, in Barrett, T. & Moore, S. (Eds.), New Approaches to Problem-based Learning: Revitalising Your Practice in Higher Education. New York: Routledge,

Scottish Funding Council (2004). Learning to Work: Enhancing employability and enterprise in Scottish further and higher education. Scottish Funding Council. Available from: http://www.sfc.ac.uk/publications/pubs_other_sfefcarchive/learning_to_work.pdf

Strobel, J., & van Barneveld, A. (2009). When is PBL More Effective? A Meta-synthesis of Meta-analyses Comparing PBL to Conventional Classrooms. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning, 3(1).

Tan, O. S. (2003). Problem-based learning innovation: Using problems to power learning in the 21st century. Singapore: Thomson Learning.