---

Cultivating Intellectual Passion through Problem-Based Learning

Gallagher, Shelagh A. Charlotte, NC, USA

Abstract. Mark Twain once said, “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way”. This is the basic philosophy of Problem-Based Learning, a model of curriculum and instruction grounded in Bruner’s philosophy of learning through authentic practice of a discipline. Through the investigation of an actual PBL problem, participants will explore both pragmatic and theoretical aspects of PBL. Major components of PBL will be reviewed, including the nature of the ill-structured problem, the importance of the stakeholder role, and the role of the ‘metacognitive coach’. Research on the efficacy of the PBL model will be presented. Ample opportunity for question and answer will be incorporated into this highly interactive workshop.

Biography

Dr. Shelagh A. Gallagher is a nationally recognized consultant in gifted education. Prior this she spent 10 years at UNC Charlotte where she directed two Javits grants. She was also the first project manager of the Javits grant that produced the William and Mary science units. Shelagh also worked at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) where she was introduced to Problem-Based Learning. Dr. Galagher has won two NAGC Curriculum Division awards and the NAGC Article of the Year award. She is the author of the PBL units Excluded! and All Work and No Play; she and her father co-author Teaching the Gifted Child.