Intersections of Problem-Based Learning

What do you know? What do you need to know?

At this point, you have met the problem but it is not yet yours, exactly. That is, you have not yet put it into your own words, making sure that you understand what is going on in the scenario. To get to your own statement of the problem (not to mention your work on possible solutions), you need to take stock. What do you know already? What do you need to know if you are going to clarify the problem and begin to explore how to address it?

Chart of Statements: Know/Need to Know

The simplest way to begin is with a two column table drawn on a sheet of paper or created in a word processing program.  I know it's low tech, but something like a piece of notebook paper works pretty well.

What do you know?

What do you know about the problem? Who are the people involved? What are their roles and relationships with one another? What is the setting of the problem? Is a timetable given in the scenario? The reporter's questions (who, what, when, where, how, why) can get you started.

At this point you can begin to chart what you know about the biblical text involved in the problem, but do not get stuck there. Right now, you are primarily concerned with what you know about the problem. Of course, one of the things you know about the problem at this point is that a particular biblical text is involved. Still, do not get bogged down in exegetical questions at this point. There will be lots of time to get bogged down in exegesis later!

What do you need to know?

What do you need to know to begin to address the problem? Where are the gaps in the information you have been given? Again, basic questions of who, what, where, when and so on can help. Where are the gaps in what you know about the biblical text that is part of the problem? You do not have to track down answers to what you need to know at this point. Here you are just beginning a list of things you can follow up on later. The aim of your Know/Need to Know list is clarity about the problem you are addressing.

Concept Map

A second tool for charting what you know and need to know is a concept map, a visual representation of all the concepts or big ideas that are part of your problem. You draw the map to see ideas, issues, characters or other things all at a glance, and to clarify their relationships to each other.

The best simple explanation for a concept map I have found is posted as part of Wheeling Jesuit University's Classroom of the Future program.

The example below is a concept map drawn as part of the problem called, Jesus on the Breadcrumb Trail. The problem involves a church drama group staging the story; as I was working to figure out various aspects of the problem, I mapped all the characters and their relationships to each other. 

Look at all the lines traveling out from the woman. She is incredibly persistent in this story as she asks for help from Jesus.  Having drawn this map before writing a statement of the problem, I know I'll want my statement of the problem to say something about finding a way to communicate the woman's persistence in a way that makes the disciples and even Jesus uncomfortable.

Tips for Listing What you Know and Need to Know

How do you know? | Guard against making assumptions concerning what you know. For every item on your list, ask yourself, "How do I know this?" Have a reason for putting things on that side of the ledger: the scenario states it; the biblical text mentions it, and so on.

You can add things later. | Do this work as thoroughly as you can early in the process—before you write your statement of the problem—yet don't worry when you need to revise your lists. You will be learning things all along the PBL path, so your "Know" column will grow. Your "Need to Know" column may grow too, as you see new facets of the problem along the way.

Mini Post-it^® notes rock. | Mini post-its are a great way to put a concept map together. Write concepts on them, then move them around a piece of paper or a few square feet of wall space until you can see how the different pieces of your problem are related.

Concept Map Software | Several drawing tools exist to make concept mapping easier. Two very good ones are Inspiration and SmartDraw, both priced around $60. for a standard version. There are also some free concept mapping software tools you might want to check out, including Cmap Tools.

Go to PBL Intersection State the Problem