DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit (TEU) header
Teaching Enhancement Unit

Differences between Challenge-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning and Problem-Based Learning

Technique/
Characteristic
Project-Based
Learning
Problem-Based
Learning
Challenge-Based 
Learning

Learning

Students build their knowledge through a specific task (Swinden 2013). The knowledge acquired is applied to carry out the assigned project.

Students acquire new information through self directed learning using designed problems (Boud 1985, in Savin-Baden and Howell Major, 2004). The knowledge acquired is applied to solve the problem at hand.

 

Students work with teachers and experts in their communities, on real-world problems, in order to develop a deeper knowledge of the subjects that they are studying. It is the challenge itself that triggers the generation of new knowledge and the necessary tools or resources.

Focus

It faces the students with a relevant situations and predefined problematic for which a solution is required (Vicerrectoria de Noematividad Academica y Asuntos Estudiantiles, 2014). It faces students with a relevant problematic situation, often fictional for which a real solution is not needed (Larmer, 2015). It faces students with an open, relevant, problematic situation which requires a real solution.

Product

It requires the students to generate a product a presentation or an implementation of solution (Larmer, 2015). It focuses more on the learning processes than the products of the solutions (Vicerrectoria de Noematividad Academica y Asuntos Estudiantiles, 2014). It requires students to create a solution resulting a concrete action.

Process

Students work with the assigned projects so their engagement generates products for their learning (Moursund, 1999). Students work with the problem in a way that tests their ability to reason and apply their knowledge to be evaluated according to their learning level (Barrows and Tamblyn 1980) Students analyse, design, develop and execute the best solution in order to tackle the challenge in a way they and other people see and measure.

Teachers role

Facilitator and project manager (Jackson, 2012) Facilitate, guide, tutor or professional adviser (Barrows, 2001 cited in Riberio and Mizukami, 2005) Coach, co-researcher and designer (Baloian, Hoeksema, Hoppe and Milrad, 2006)


Reference: Membrillo-Hernández, J. et al. (2019) ‘Challenge based learning: the importance of world-leading companies as training partners’, International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing (IJIDeM), 13(3), pp. 1103–1113. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-019-00569-4.