Spiritual_Wellness_Holistic_Health_and_the_Practic

CHAPTER
17
PROBLEM - BASED
LEARNING: CATALYST FOR
BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
J. F REDERICK G ARMAN
C AROL J. T ESKE
D UANE A. C RIDER
P ost - secondary education has recently been challenged to embrace new pedagogical
paradigms that are intended to move professionals away from simply “ teaching ”
toward strategies that actively promote “ learning. ” Commentary (Barr & Tagg, 1995)
has sounded a call to revaluate and revise classroom instructional methodologies so
greater emphasis is placed on actively engaging students ’ in the learning process rather
than simply transferring knowledge. Resulting comparisons of old versus new instructional
strategies (Cox, 1999) suggest there are advantages to these approaches.
However, does the movement away from the traditional, lecture recitation format of
instruction, toward more pervasive use of active learning methodologies, have a favorable
impact on the ability to change health behavior? With lifestyle decisions and habits
continuing to be a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality (Johansson &
Sundquist, 1999; Liebson & Amsterdam, 1999), this remains a salient question. The
efficacy of promoting behavioral change among students in a post - secondary health