If you think PBL is right for your students, think again

Problem based learning (PBL) has been widely practised and extensively researched in a variety of disciplines for over past four decades. However, its evidence of effectiveness still remains inconclusive. This literature review paper debates the effectiveness of problem-based learning on learners’ academic performance. Specifically, the discussion in this paper puts the focus on the basic concept of PBL and the effectiveness of PBL based on the existing research findings. Apart from that, cognitive load theory will be discussed as it is generally believed that cognitive load induced by any learning strategy has an impact on learner’s performance. The effectiveness of PBL from the perspective of Cognitive Load Theory will be presented. In addition, this paper also puts forward some theoretical ideas on when to ultilise PBL during the process of teaching and learning, and how the implementation of PBL can be improved by integrating with other learning strategies.