Rigorous PBL by Design: Three Shifts for Developing Confident and Competent Learners

Rigorous PBL by Design: Three Shifts for Developing Confident and Competent Learners by Michael McDowell (2017) is a worthwhile text for faculty who are interested in implementing “rigorous PBL” in higher education but may be concerned that it’s only for K-12. The book starts with a foreword by John Hattie, a well-known author in the fields of Education and Pedagogy. He clearly articulates his reasons as to why PBL is a worthwhile endeavor for both educators and students. He challenges studies that claim PBL lacks effectiveness of statistical significance. He found, through his own research, that if students have enough background knowledge, then PBL provides the opportunity for students to dive deeper into the content, thus increasing the rate of effectiveness when compared to more traditional teaching styles. Hattie concludes his foreword with emphasizing a major theme that McDowell presents throughout the book: the correct time, place, and pertinent instructions...