My son is in 5th grade and he has aspergers.  He functions in mainstream education with extra assistance needed for some academic areas and social skills.  He has started a new school which is piloting a new curriculum which I understand is complete PBL.  I would like to know if there is any research which supports the idea that this type of instruction is a best practice for a student like my son.  From what I have been able to understand, PBL requires the students to communicate with one another, work cooperatively, be organized and use critical thinking skills.  If you were to list the areas of deficit for my son it would be just what I listed.  He needs work in all of these areas, but in order for growth to occur there must be very close monitoring.  He, and most kids with aspergers, prefer structure and order to their day.  He is a rule oriented kid.  He does not generalize well and is very literal in his understanding.
I can see many merits for PBL.  However, I also think that the more traditional approach to teaching and learning also had merit. I do not think there is a one size fit all for teaching.  As a parent of a child with special needs which also include AD/HD (have already read what you know about PBL and AD/HD) I have concerns.  I need to know that there is legitimate support for this being the best environment for him.  Any insight is appreciated.
Thanks!

Hello.  I don’t see any response to your post.  I’m in the same position as you are with a 12 year old son who is set to start High Tech PBL charter school.  How has your son been doing?

Susan

I am not sure I am the best one to answer as I cannot say my experience has been favorable.  In all honesty, I am not sure if it is due to PBL or the untrained teachers who are trying to implement it.  My son has extreme impulse control issues as well as the social skills issues that often accompany Aspergers.  I can see the merit of PBL and when done well can see how it would excite kids about learning.  However, throwing computers and ipods and ipads at students and unleashing them to the internet with very little structure is not what I understand PBL to be about.  My best advice is to really stay on top of things and communicate with the school.  I have had to speak up more than I ever have.  Good luck!

Wow.  Thank you for the quick feedback.  The school my son is set to start is brand new, though it is part of the San Diego CA High Tech High school system which began in 1993.  Are you in San Diego, by chance?  My son is doing very well in middle school now.  We just had his anual IEP meeting.  He is an gifted student with good grades and seems to be socializing and working on team project well.  BUT, there would need to be good supervision and direction for PBL to be successful.  The school supposedly has a 1/16 teacher/student ration, which is why I was thinking it would be so great.  Yes, the PBL is the heart of our Asperger kids problems, and hopefully what will prepare them for life.  But is it too much too soon??  That’s what I’m wondering.  We don’t start until the fall, so I have time to decide.

We are not in San Diego though just visited there and MY GOODNESS what a beautiful place.  We are in Texas.  My son has excellent grades but he has not earned any of them. They have been gifts. I have experienced the school making modifications for my son and giving grades which he did not earn.  That is not what I am wanting and really irritates me.  And it has little to do with PBL though I do think because of the PBL they do not know how to assign grades.  Group grades are pretty nebulous and not very indicative of what my son really understands.  I think as long as a school understands that PBL is not the ANSWER but rather another approach to curriculum you will be OK.  I feel as if we abandoned everything which has worked for centuries. IT is not not ALL bad.

Those who are following this thread might be interested in a article I just posted.

It addresses the effectiveness of PBL with mainstreamed special education students.

http://www.bie.org/research/study/inclusion_and_problem-based_learning

This is helpful.  Thank you!