AbstrackProblem-based learning (PBL) (Lim, 2007;Abu Hassan Kassim, 2003;Anuar Zaini, et al., 2003;Ng & Siow, 2003; Sharifah Maimunah, 2000). Students learning are in the form of passively accepting information from the teacher, copying notes, drill and practice, Indonesian Journal of Educational Review, Vol. 4 (1), July 2017 2 and 'cookbook style' practical activities. In such a learning environment, students become passive and dependent learners. Students face difficulties in learning and working with other when they enter tertiary education. Most students entering university are not prepared for active learning as they come from a passive, spoonfed and exam-oriented schooling system (Hussain & Berhannudin, 2009; Khairiyah, et al., 2009). There is a need to nurture students with the skills and capabilities to learn and collaborate with others since their schooling years. A transition from passive learning to actively engage in their own learning is the first step towards the development of well-rounded students. Thus, a learning environment providing real context learning and opportunity for students to work by themselves and among themselves has been designed and introduced into Malaysia secondary school.
Problem-Based LearningProblem-based learning was developed by Howard S. Barrows and first implemented in McMaster University medical education in the 1960's (Barrows & Tamblyn, 1980). Medical students were not able to apply their knowledge in real clinical settings even though having passed the written examinations. PBL was thus developed to provide students with a learning environment that mirrored clinical practices, which could facilitate students' skills relevant to the real practice as well as promote deep learning. Various adaptations were made and PBL has been implemented across most disciplines, spread across the globe and was introduced into K-12 education (Tan & Mohammad Yusof Arshad, 2011).PBL is a pedagogical approach centered on ill-structured real world problem, which stimulate the practice of information-gathering, reasoning and problem-solving skills, interpersonal and team working skills, as well as the acquisition of content knowledge, in the process of working out the problem in collaborative groups. Students are responsible for their own learning while the instructor's role is to facilitate students' learning process without imparting direct answers or knowledge.There is limited research found about using PBL in Malaysia secondary schools even though there is an increase interest worldwide to implement PBL. Majority of Malaysia secondary school students as well as teachers have never come across PBL approach at schools (Faaizah & Halimah, 2007). Whether PBL is able to be implemented across Malaysia schools with large classes conducted by only one teacher remains a question. What will happen when teachers and students new to PBL experience PBL lessons? How will the learning proceeds? Are students able to work collaboratively and self-directly within their PBL groups and how does it occ...