Problem-based projects in medical education: extending PBL practices and broadening learning perspectives

Medical education strives to foster effective education of medical students despite an ever-changing landscape in medicine. This article explores the utility of projects in problem-based learning-project-PBL-as a way to supplement traditional case-PBL. First, project-PBL may enhance student engagement and motivation by allowing them to direct their own learning. Second, project-PBL may help students develop metacognitive competencies by forcing them to collaborate and regulate learning in settings without a facilitator. Finally, project-PBL may foster skills and competencies related to medical research. As illustrated through a brief example from Aalborg University, Denmark, students learn differently from project-PBL and case-PBL, and so one implementation cannot simply replace the other. I conclude by suggesting future directions for research on project-PBL to explore its benefits in medical education.