TMS3723
ASSIGNMENT 5 (SEMESTER)
DUE DATE: 9 September 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than …September 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
QUESTION 1
1. How can problem-based learning be used to encourage students to think critically (10 marks)
and creatively and to develop their teamwork and communication skills (10 marks)? (20)
ANSWER:
Encouraging Critical Thinking (10 marks):
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) engages students with real-world, complex problems that do not
have predetermined answers. This method encourages students to dive deep into the problem,
identifying what they know, what they need to learn, and how they can acquire the necessary
information. The process involves rigorous inquiry, where students must evaluate different sources
of information, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant data, and consider the validity of their
assumptions. By requiring students to develop hypotheses, test their ideas, and refine their
solutions based on feedback, PBL fosters a systematic approach to critical thinking that is both
iterative and reflective. This method also encourages metacognition, where students think about
their thinking, leading to greater self-awareness and intellectual growth.
ASSIGNMENT 5 (SEMESTER)
DUE DATE: 9 September 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than …September 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
QUESTION 1
1. How can problem-based learning be used to encourage students to think critically (10 marks)
and creatively and to develop their teamwork and communication skills (10 marks)? (20)
ANSWER:
Encouraging Critical Thinking (10 marks):
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) engages students with real-world, complex problems that do not
have predetermined answers. This method encourages students to dive deep into the problem,
identifying what they know, what they need to learn, and how they can acquire the necessary
information. The process involves rigorous inquiry, where students must evaluate different sources
of information, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant data, and consider the validity of their
assumptions. By requiring students to develop hypotheses, test their ideas, and refine their
solutions based on feedback, PBL fosters a systematic approach to critical thinking that is both
iterative and reflective. This method also encourages metacognition, where students think about
their thinking, leading to greater self-awareness and intellectual growth.
