Although it has been proposed that the problem-based learning (PBL) method could be a more efficient way than the traditional lecture method where a lecturer gives a unidirectional delivery of knowledge to students, little has been done to compare and...
Although it has been proposed that the problem-based learning (PBL) method could be a more efficient way than the traditional lecture method where a lecturer gives a unidirectional delivery of knowledge to students, little has been done to compare and verify both methods in a class of students. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate both methods and investigate whether or not the PBL method could be more efficient than the lecturing method. To fulfill this goal, two questions were posed: 1) how does the PBL method affect the academic achievement of students? 2) how does the PBL method affect the self-directed learning attitude of students? To answer these questions, a selected sample of high school students was taught a non-literature part of Korean language using the PBL method and the student’s performance was evaluated in terms of their academic achievement and their self-directed learning attitude and compared to the performance of students taught the same material using the traditional lecture method.
60 students from two first year classes of a high school in the city of G in Chung-Cheong Nam-Do province were selected for the subjects of this study 30 students (experimental group) were treated with the PBL method, and 30 students (comparative group) were treated with the traditional lecture method. To evaluate the academic achievement of the students, both the experimental and the comparative groups of students were tested before and after treatment. To evaluate the self-directed learning attitude of students, the students were tested with 61 questions developed by Baumert et al., and Ro(1999) which assess learning strategy, motivation of learning, and self concept. The test was scored by the four step evaluation system of Likert where a higher score indicates a higher self-directed learning attitude. The Cronbach α of this test was 0.860. All statistical analyses of the collected data were performed using SPSS 12.0.
The results of this study indicated that the PBL method was significantly more efficient at enhancing the academic achievement and self-directed learning attitude of the students compared to the traditional lecture method.
The PBL method required more active participation of the students to solve problems by collecting data, analyzing data, and sharing information comparing with other groups of students. In this way, therefore, it is believed that the PBL method creates a healthy competitive environment which enhances academic achievement and self-directed learning attitudes.