PBL...What is it? What does it mean for teaching?

According to Google Web, problem based learning in education is a student-centered instructional strategy in which students collaboratively solve problems and reflect on their experiences, or learning that is driven by a question or problem and uses various methods of inquiry research to address the question or problem.

Some of the things I learned while researching what problem based learning is:

     Specific tasks in a problem-based learning environment include:

• determining whether a problem exists;
• creating an exact statement of the problem;
• identifying information needed to understand the problem;
• identifying resources to be used to gather information;
• generating possible solutions;
• analyzing the solutions; and
• presenting the solution, orally and/or in writing.

PBL is used to engage students in learning. This is based on several theories in cognitive theory. Two prominent ones are that students work on problems perceived as meaningful or relevant and that people try to fill in the gaps when presented with a situation they do not readily understand. Teachers present students with a problem set, then student work-groups analyze the problem, research, discuss, analyze, and produce tentative explanations, solutions, or recommendations. It is essential to PBL that students do not possess sufficient prior knowledge to address the problem. In the initial discussion, students develop a set of questions that need to be addressed. These questions then become the objectives for students' learning.

My Experience with Voice Thread:

Link to Voice Thread project: http://voicethread.com/#q.b1364321.i7238700 
     I have learned an abundant amount of information while working with Voice Thread. When I first started putting together my voice thread, I was really confused as to how to make it all work. I think that students would really enjoy using Voice Thread because you get to see yourself if you use the web-cam, you get to talk on the phone to make a comment, and it is simple to use once you have figured it out. Also, this is a neat and exciting way for teachers to interact with students, rather than always talking in the class. The teacher could do a Voice Thread if they knew they were going to be out, and the substitute could share the Voice Thread with the class, and that students could complete their work that way. Voice Thread would be beneficial for all student levels, and could be adapted to all student levels. This could also be adapted to fit almost any academic subject. It really allows for personal creativity and individualization, which I think students crave.
      I am so excited to have been introduced to the exciting tool, Voice Thread. I cannot even begin to describe what I learned while experiencing Voice Thread and creating a lesson/activity to go along with it. I learned and discovered how much fun and useful Voice Thread would be in a classroom. This was my first time experiencing Voice Thread, and I loved it. It helped bring in more classroom/student skills than just creating something fun. The students are able to learn/work on technical skills, writing skills, social skills, and language skills. If the teacher were able to find some way to incorporate Voice Thread into a lesson/activity, or at the beginning of each unit, I think the teacher would find more of a learning connection with the students rather than just learning information from the book. Students want to learn and think “outside of the box” and I think Voice Thread helps do just that.