Problem-Based Learning

As I was researching problem-based learning and creating the above video, I kept thinking about another assignment for another class. I had to find a virtual field trip for my Teaching Social Studies course, and the one I submitted was a virtual field trip to Plimouth Plantation . The reason I kept thinking about this is because there was a little game on the website where you could make some choices that the pilgrims had to make such as where to build, what to spend your time doing, etc. Once you made the choices, you learned whether or not those were the same choices made by the pilgrims and what the consequences to those choices were or could have been. I think something along these lines could easily be turned into a problem-based learning unit. Students could learn about the pilgrims and their history by working on a case study that depicted the choices and challenges faced by the pilgrims.  I was engaged just playing the game, I can easily see how engaging learning history in this fashion would be to young learners.  And, because students are actively engaged and applying their knowledge while acquiring new knowledge, the lessons of history become quickly applicable to them in their lives, and isn't that a major purpose of learning history? 

I'm feeling very inspired today ... Here's to problem-based learning!