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Cited by 1Problem and Project Based LearningInnovative Teaching and Learning MethodsEducational Games and Gamification

Chapter 1: Problem-based learning: A 21st-century teaching and learning strategy

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Research Unit Self-Directed Learning, Faculty of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, Golightly, Aubrey, Sebatana, Motlhale J., School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, Faculty of Education, North-West University, Mahikeng, South Africa·2023·NWU Self-Directed Learning Series
DOI 10.4102/aosis.2023.bk409.01
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Abstract

The focus of this book is original research regarding the implementation of problem-based learning and pedagogies of play as active approaches to foster self-directed learning. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in mind, educational institutions need to rethink teaching and learning for the future. As such, active engagement can be encouraged, as evident in this book, where problem-based learning drives learning through real-world problems, while pedagogy of play focuses on innovative environments where the action of play and learning are integrated with the aim of developing SDL. The following are addressed in the chapters: an overview of problem-based learning and pedagogy of play, metaliteracy, playful problem-based learning tasks, computational thinking in game-based tasks and geometry, solving puzzles, applying LEGO®, using drama as the pedagogy of play and implementing educational robotics. The empirical research findings disseminated in this book aim to inspire academics in the research focus area of self-directed learning with active learning approaches in the school and tertiary classroom that hold affordances to enhance 21st-century skills. Active learning is an umbrella term for pedagogies that mainstream student engagement, such as problem-based learning, cooperative learning, gamification, role-play and drama. This scholarly book highlights various engaging pedagogies.

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  • Graduate readiness gaps are widely documented with students expressing anxiety around volatile hiring climates and cross-sector mobility demands.

    “Strikingly though, graduate readiness gaps are widely documented with students expressing anxiety around volatile hiring climates and cross-sector mobility demands40,42.”

    From Project based learning framework integrating industry collaboration to enhance student future readiness in higher education (2025) · cites this paper as [42]

    The Introduction passage on p. 14 discusses difficulties students may have with problem-based learning, not graduate readiness or employment. Searches for graduate employability, hiring uncertainty, student anxiety and cross-sector mobility found no passage making the attributed claim; the relevant hits were reference-list entries. Our copy is truncated, so a decisive passage may be missing. (LLM, conf=0.69)

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Authors
Research Unit Self-Directed Learning, F. O. E., Golightly, A., Sebatana, M. J., & School of Mathematics, S. A. T. E.
ORCID
Venue
NWU Self-Directed Learning Series
Publisher
AOSIS (Pty) Ltd
Published
2023-09-01
ISSN
2707-1537 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4102/aosis.2023.bk409.01
OpenAlex
W4386919187
Cited by
1
References
581
Citations by year
2025: 1
FWCI
1.78
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
NWU self-directed learning series (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Research Foundation
  • National Science Council
  • North-West University
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Problem and Project Based Learning
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
Keywords
problem-based learning, pedagogy of play, self-directed learning, active learning, Fourth Industrial Revolution, 21st century skills, metaliteracy, game-based learning, computational thinking, puzzles, LEGO, drama, educational robotics, student engagement

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