How Problem Based Learning can Facilitate Training on Hard and Soft Skills

Abstract

Students of engineering and natural science have been trained in problem based learning (PBL) groups. The case dealt with two focus points: one medical emergency scenario and one group conflict scenario. Most of the participants identified the medical content as individual learning goals, whereas at the same time the learning aims of the group conflict scenario were chosen as more relevant for the own education. When more than one learning aim was identified, a category change (medical emergency <-> group conflict) was unlikely. The acceptance of PBL learning groups in terms of identification of the own benefit was with 3.9 on a 5-points-scale well above average.