Challenges
About challenge-based learning
Challenge-based learning (CBL) is an educational framework that centres around solving challenges in teams that include relevant participants of the challenge. CBL profits from internal motivation and creates opportunities for finding new solutions to real-life problems.
Learners are in charge of their learning process and it allows teachers and other stakeholders to contribute to lifelong learning. The approach makes a difference and proposes a deep, engaging, meaningful and purposeful way of acquiring and developing the knowledge and skills needed for the future.The approach follows a specific structure, which consists of three main steps: engage, investigate and act. (Nichols, Mark H., Cator, Karen (2008), Challenge-based learning White Paper. Cupertino, California: Apple, Inc.).
The challenge has to motivate students, here begins the engagement part. When working on the ‘Big Idea’, the engagement is the basis for a satisfying process. All the participants, teachers, students and external partners make sure that they agree on the final question to work on.
Investigation makes sure they all are ‘on the same page’ and contribute with their knowledge and skills concerning the ‘Big Idea’.
Action is important because partners can use gained and shared knowledge to actually design and prototype new solutions. The implementation of the prototype and the evaluation is crucial. A final presentation in public makes sure a difference is made. The learning process is transparent for all members of the community.
