Summer institute to focus on problem-based instruction

Faculty are invited to participate in the next session of the Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education, scheduled June 18-22, on "Integrating Active Learning with Online Resources."

The basic principle supporting the concept of problem-based instruction is that learning is initiated by a posed problem, query or puzzle that the learner wants to solve. In the problem-based approach, complex, real world problems or cases are used to motivate students to identify and research concepts and principles they need to know in order to progress through the problems. Students work in small learning teams, bringing together collective skill at acquiring, communicating and integrating information in a process that resembles that of inquiry.

This five-day workshop will demonstrate problem-based learning (PBL) and will model ways that PBL can be used effectively in all disciplines, in upper and lower division courses and in all size classes.

There is no registration fee required for participants from the University of Delaware. A limited number of seats are made available for a modest fee to members of other colleges and universities.

Information is available at the ITUE web site [http://www.udel. edu/inst/] or via e-mail from George Watson, physics and astronomy, at [ghw@udel.edu]. Online registration is available at [http://www.udel.edu/inst/ jun2001/registration.html].