The Problem-Based Learning Tutorial: Cultivating Higher Order Thinking Skills

In today's information age, it is increasingly important to help learners develop higher order thinking skills as well as a flexible knowledge base. Research in cognitive science and education suggests that both of these aims can be achieved by having students learn through solving problems. Problem-based learning (PBL), with its emphasis on both strategies and content, is particularly well suited to achieving these aims. In PBL, student learning begins with a problem to be solved and includes cycles of reflection on the problem-solving experience. This paper will discuss the tutorial process in PBL and how it can be used to cultivate higher order thinking skills.