Problem-Based Learning in Science Education: Achievements, Pitfalls and Ways Forward, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered learning approach that was developed in the sixties within the scope of medical schools. By focusing on real world problems, which are interdisciplinary in nature, ths approach may enable students to learn content knowledge and competences, as well as individual and social abilities that are relevant for 21st century citizens. PBL has been used in a range of areas, namely in science education. Implementing PBL in science education requires teachers and students to change their ways of learning, teaching, evaluating, and assessing.

The Special Issue is seeking papers that focus on the achievements, pitfalls, and advances of PBL in science education. It will address the contribution of PBL in science to a wide range of learning outcomes, the challenges posed to science teachers and students, in both face-to-face and digital environments, as well as the success and failure in specific contexts or with particular groups.

We welcome submissions for areas including, but not limited to, the following:

• Foundations and relevance of PBL for science education
• The state of the art of PBL in science education
• Teaching and learning science through PBL
• STEM education through PBL
• Online PBL in science
• Inclusion through PBL in science
• Development of pupils’ abilities through PBL in science
• Teacher education for teaching science through PBL
• Evaluating and assessing students’ learning of science in PBL contexts. 

Prof. Dr. Laurinda Leite
Dr. Luis Dourado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• PBL in science
• STEM education through PBL
• science teacher education for PBL
• online science PBL
• inclusion through PBL in science: developing students’ abilities through PBL
• designing PBL in science
• monitoring PBL in science
• evaluating science learning in PBL environments

• Problem-Based Learning in Science Education: Achievements, Pitfalls and Ways Forward in Education Sciences (10 articles)