Phenomenon-Based Learning: Students Learning Science the Way Scientists Do

We now know much better ways than the traditional lecture for students to learn science. Combining research-based techniques, students will learn more and will better enjoy the learning process. This is an approach used by some teachers in Finland, where students score the highest among western nations on international science assessments. Working with Finnish teachers, and combining the most effective aspects of problem-based, project-based, and inquiry-based teaching, along with cooperative, group learning, we present “Phenomenon-Based Learning” (PBL). The experience of PBL is learning not by memorizing facts, but by exploration and discovery. Consistent with NGSS principles, students will learn science by doing science — in the same way that scientists do.