PBL - Pro's and Con's

**jasonh** · 08-04-2004, 09:03 PM

What do current Notts students think about PBL? I'm particularly interested in anyone who doesn't have a science background, and how they have found the problem-based learning course.

I'm rejecting St George's, if anyone's interested, as I don't fancy living in London. Now I'm trying to choose between Swansea and Nottingham, and PBL is one of the key factors that differs between them.

**Rich** · 20-04-2004, 04:13 PM

I've been meaning to reply to this posting for a while Jasonh but I've just read another of your postings and found out that its a bit late now as you've accepted Nottm.

I'm not on the current Nottm course (I'm starting in September) but I've looked in on PBL sessions. Very exciting they are too. Really stimulating way to learn I think. The emphasis of course, and also the difficult bit about PBL, is taking responsibility for your own education rather than being told what you should know. I'm a scientist but I read that a non-scientist can expect to have to do an extra 10 hours of private study a week over and above the 15 hours required of the scientists.

Did you go to the open day at Derby, or are you the guy who is currently in Siberia?

Seeya in September,
Rich

**jasonh** · 20-04-2004, 04:49 PM

Hi there,

Cheers for the reply.

I was pretty keen on PBL myself, but Swansea put me off a little as they railed against it. However, I am now convinced of its efficacy and the success of the first cohort at St George's in getting their preferred PRHO jobs steels my resolve.

I won't have much trouble with the self-teaching aspect I hope, as I have just spent three years studying history at Oxford, which basically involves organising and doing everything for yourself for weekly essays and tutorials. Might have more trouble with the science though (despite, disturbingly where my Finals are concerned, scoring higher mark on GAMSAT science paper than other papers) so that will require lots of hard work.

Look forward to meeting you in September!

**Rich** · 20-04-2004, 04:53 PM

Good stuff.

Where did you hear the info about the SGHMS PBL students having no problems getting PRHO jobs?

From your GAMSAT performance it sounds like you won't have many problems with the science aspect of the course.

Rich

**jasonh** · 20-04-2004, 08:08 PM

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere on the forum that someone had been told by someone at St George's (maybe Caroline) that the 2004 graduates had enjoyed greater than 'average' success at getting their chosen PRHO jobs. The respondent pointed out sagely that this may be a function of their being graduates and thus otherwise better qualified anyway.