Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an educational approach that focuses on real-world problem-solving rather than rote memorization. Through PBL, students develop critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills by engaging with complex, open-ended problems.
Everyday situations provide knowledge, and this is taken into account by the approach of Problem Based Learning (PBL). This method aims to confront the student with real situations, investigate them and, through the use of critical judgment, learn autonomously and cooperatively.
Below are 10 examples of how this methodology can be applied across different subjects.
The number of problem situations that can arise are infinite. In this article we are going to see 10 cases of problem-based learning and some of the concepts that can be taught through them.
1. Economy: A family purchase
A low-income family wants to buy everything they need, but without spending more than they can afford.
Students can ask themselves several questions: what are basic foods? What are its properties? How to make the purchase as cheap as possible?
Based on these questions, they can investigate the nutrients in foods and determine which ones are dispensable. Besides, this exercise leaves the option of doing field work, going to supermarkets and comparing the prices of the products.
This knowledge is useful since they learn what basic foods are, in addition to being able to apply the new acquired knowledge and savings strategies in their daily lives.
Students are given a fixed budget and must plan a household purchase, such as buying a new appliance or organizing a monthly grocery list. They need to:
Compare product prices and evaluate cost-benefit ratios.
Consider installment payments vs. full payments.
Analyze the impact of their decisions on long-term savings.
Through this activity, students learn financial literacy, budgeting, and responsible decision-making.
2. Biology: Insect pest
There is a plague of mosquitoes in a town, which affects tourism and harms the health of the inhabitants.
Some questions that students can ask themselves: how do mosquitoes reproduce? Are they typical of the area? Has there been torrential rain? Stagnant water? What insecticides are usually used in the town?
From here they can develop an action plan to reduce the number of insects in addition to considering how to teach the inhabitants to deal with the problem for the future.
A local farm reports an infestation of insects that threatens their crops. Students must:
Research the type of insects involved and their life cycle.
Propose biological or chemical control measures.
Consider environmental and economic implications of their solutions.
This teaches students ecology, environmental impact, and agricultural sustainability.
3. Security: Evacuation of an institute
An institute has suffered a fire and the evacuation plan has been a disaster: the emergency doors were blocked there was pushing and the students breathed in a lot of smoke.
It is proposed to rework the evacuation plan to prevent this from happening again. Students may wonder what went wrong last time, if the emergency signs were well placed, if the educational staff had clear roles in case of evacuation…
The students themselves can investigate what their center’s evacuation plan is. Find out where the emergency exits are and learn the safety signs. They can contact firefighters and police to explain what to do in an emergency and how not to act.
Students are presented with a hypothetical emergency, such as a fire in a school building. Their task is to:
Analyze potential escape routes based on building structure.
Identify high-risk areas and recommend solutions.
Develop a step-by-step emergency plan, including communication strategies.
This enhances risk assessment, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
4. Chemistry: Heartburn
To understand concepts such as acidity/basicity, the example of heartburn is quite recurrent.
In the stomach there are acids that digest food, which are affected by the type of diet. Students can indicate when they have felt this pain, and what they had eaten when it happened to them.
They can learn about how antacids work, make a model of a stomach and add different foods to them to see how the acids react…
Based on this example, not only learn chemical concepts, but also about appropriate eating habits to avoid heartburn.
A patient suffers from frequent acid reflux, and students must find a solution. They are required to:
Research the causes of acidity in the stomach.
Compare chemical properties of different antacids.
Experiment with acid-base reactions to neutralize excess stomach acid.
This exercise strengthens students’ understanding of pH, chemical reactions, and health science.
5. Physics: Fly Swatter
Why is trying to kill a fly with your hand less effective than trying to kill it with a fly swatter? This question can be asked to introduce the concept of aerodynamics.
Students can try to explain why this is done in a practical way, making their own fly swatters and seeing how to make them as effective as possible.
Although it may seem like a very simple example of problem-based learning, having to make a fly swatter is not an easy task if the reason for its design is unknown, allowing students to experiment and participate in their own learning.
The challenge: design a fly swatter that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing energy use. Students need to:
Apply Newton’s Laws of Motion to optimize force and acceleration.
Choose the best materials for flexibility and durability.
Experiment with different shapes and sizes to test aerodynamics.
Through this, students develop problem-solving skills in physics and engineering.
6. Psychology: Selection of personnel for a hospital
A new hospital has been built and new staff are being sought. The idea is to select new employees by administering batteries of questionnaires.
Students must investigate which tests are most appropriate for the selection of healthcare personnel. They must classify these questionnaires for themselves and determine which ones they should use for the assigned task.
By doing this, instead of having to memorize lists of questionnaires, students become part of their own learning, and carry out in-depth research that allows them to become familiar with different assessment tools.
A hospital is hiring new staff, and students act as recruiters in charge of selecting candidates. They must:
Define psychological traits necessary for different healthcare roles.
Design an interview process and psychological assessment.
Analyze ethical considerations in hiring.
This exercise introduces concepts of industrial-organizational psychology and decision-making.
7. Mathematics: Play with triangles
Instead of teaching formulas for each type of triangle, Primary school children can be familiarized with concepts such as area and perimeter by playing tangram.
Different figures are presented on the board and each child has a tangram game. Children have to imitate the figures.
Once they have learned the different types of triangles, they can introduce mathematical concepts by looking for real-life triangular shapes and forming groups to measure the sides of each triangle. Thus, students learn in a group and interactive way.
A construction company needs to build a triangular support structure for a bridge. Students must:
Use trigonometry and the Pythagorean theorem to calculate angles and lengths.
Experiment with different triangle types (isosceles, equilateral, scalene) for stability.
Solve real-world problems related to load distribution.
This helps students apply mathematical concepts to engineering.
8. Mathematics: Calculating heights
Instead of teaching the classic and heavy trigonometric formulas, you can propose to go to the street and calculate the height of the buildings.
The students are separated into groups, and each of them must measure the shadow of the buildings and the degree of inclination. From this information you can calculate the heights, in addition to relating the new learning with real-life objects and relating it to concepts learned in previous courses: Pythagorean theorem, inclination, distance…
Students must determine the height of a tall building or tree using indirect measurement. They will:
Use trigonometry to apply angle measurements and shadows.
Experiment with Pythagoras’ theorem.
Compare their results with real-life measurements to verify accuracy.
This teaches practical applications of geometry and measurement.
9. Water shortage
In a town there are problems with drinking water. The faucet usually brings air, and if it brings water it does not come out with much pressure. There are those who suggest that it is because a local farmer has diverted the river to irrigate his crops, others suggest that it is due to lack of water and some because it is wasted.
Knowing the problem situation, students can wonder if the pipes are broken, if the water source is drying up…
You may also wonder if the diverted river is really the same source of drinking water, how the sources can be improved, what to do to increase vegetation in the area.
A community is facing a severe drought, and students must propose solutions. They need to:
Research causes of water shortages.
Design a water conservation campaign.
Evaluate solutions such as rainwater harvesting or desalination.
This problem emphasizes environmental science, sustainability, and civic responsibility.
10. History of art: film about Ancient Greece
A director wants to make a movie about Ancient Greece. Although the script is completely invented, he wants the setting and traditions represented to be as realistic as possible.
Students act as if they were fine arts consultants. They must document what the buildings were like in the classical era. Read the script and find out what would be the most appropriate places to represent the scenes of the film.
Students are tasked with producing a short film about Ancient Greece. They must:
Research Greek mythology, architecture, and philosophy.
Write a historically accurate script.
Plan set design and costumes based on ancient artifacts.
This project fosters creativity, historical analysis, and storytelling.
By engaging in Problem-Based Learning, students develop not only academic knowledge but also essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. These 10 examples illustrate how PBL can be applied across diverse subjects, making learning more interactive, engaging, and effective.
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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team at PsychologyFor to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to evidence-based research. The content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.
