Using Problem-Based Learning Software with At-Risk Students: A Case Study Chapter

abstract

• In an extension of research examining student-centered pedagogy, the present case study examined how at-risk students used Alien Rescue, a problem-based learning (PBL) software program for middle school science. Twenty-nine participants were observed and interviewed over the twelve class days in which they were engaged in Alien Rescue. Students' reactions to the software, their problem-solving strategies, and their interactions with classmates were explored. Observations suggest that prior academic performance is the most important characteristic in explaining differences in how these students performed in this PBL unit. Recommendations for the effective use of PBL with at-risk students are made. Copyright by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

authors

• Pedersen, Susan

author list (cited authors)

• Samsonov, P., Pedersen, S., & Hill, C.

citation count

• 11

complete list of authors

• Samsonov, Pavel||Pedersen, Susan||Hill, Christine

Book Title

• Type II Uses of Technology in Education: Projects, Case Studies, and Software Applications

publication date

• July 2006

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• Computers in the Schools  Journal

keywords

• At-risk Students
• Computer-based Learning
• Problem-Based Learning

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1300/J025v23n01_10

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 13

• 9780203051672

start page

• 111

end page

• 124

volume

• 23

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/j025v23n01_10