Assessment of Adaptive PBL’s Impact on HOT Development of Computer Science Students

Abstract

Meaningful learning based on PBL is new learning strategy. Compared to traditional learning strategy, the meaningful learning strategy put the student in center of the learning process. The roles of the student in the meaningful learning strategy will be increased. The Problem-based Learning (PBL) model is considered the most productive way to encourage development of higher order thinking. In this paper we introduce application of an innovative approach to complex, adaptive, and computer-mediated assessment of HOT skills development of individual students. The complexity of assessment is expressed by forming the combined creative and analytical assessments of HOT skills. Analytical assessments skills are focused on evaluating, selecting, contrasting, comparing, and ordering. Creative Assessment adaptation is provided for individual students as for a study group. Creative assessments skills are focused on originality, efficiency, flexibility, problem finding, and elaboration. Results showed that PBL changes the learning process in many ways.  It changes the relationship between learner and teacher, and has an impact at the leaner level. The class has been re-organized and re- evaluated according of the principles of PBL. From the teacher’s perspective, PBL demands fundamental and deep reflection on work practices.

Keywords: Problem-Based Learning, Higher-Order thinking, personalized learning, analytical thinking, critical thinking.