A Delphi study to develop scaffolding strategies to support complex structural problem solving in web-based PBL environment

Objectives The purposes of this study is to find out a scaffolding strategy that can support complex structural problem solving in web-based PBL according to the procedure of web-based PBL classes. Methods To this end, three Delphi procedures were performed for the expert group, and the validity of the scaffolding strategy to be developed in five categories: validity, explanatory power, usefulness, universality, and understanding was verified. Since the first Delphi survey used an ill-structured questionnaire, content analysis was performed on the responses, categorized, and the frequency was calculated. In the 2nd and 3rd Delphi surveys, structured scaffolding categories and specific scaffolding strategies were provided to verify and re-verify the validity, and the average value was calculated. Results As a result of the first Delphi survey, the main categories of scaffolding strategies to be developed were identified: preparation, problem presentation, problem representation, solution search, correct answer presentation, monitoring and evaluation. As a result of 2nd and 3rd Delphi survey, 24 scaffolding categories and 65 scaffolding strategies were finally derived according to the stage of web-based PBL classes. Conclusions Scaffolding strategies related to syllabus among scaffolding strategies can be strategies to prepare learners in learner-centered teaching methods such as web-based PBL, which has many complex resources and tools to be used, and it has been confirmed that both structural model and situational model for problem need to be presented at the problem representation stage. In the solution search stage, it is suggested that learners construct a mental model related to problem solving and present scaffolding that supports the use of generative AIs, and in the monitoring and evaluation stage, a scaffolding strategy that can help change the role of learners from problem solvers to problem discoverers or problem creators was proposed.