Abstract:

Problem based learning (PBL) was first introduced in medical education and its success stories have led to its implementation in other disciplines. However, literature has not revealed its implementation and subsequent effectiveness in teacher education in Ghana. This paper reviewed past studies into PBL implementation in teacher education and Mathematics education relative to the traditional methods of teaching Mathematics at the Colleges of Education (COE) in Ghana. Through this literature review, it is largely noticed that PBL pedagogical strategy has proven to be more effective compared to the traditional methods of teaching. This implies that the strategy could contribute to effective Mathematics delivery at the Colleges of Education for pre-service teachers. Consequently, it is expected that learners will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in Mathematics at the basic schools where these pre-service teachers will be deployed to teach. The review has identified three research gaps that require further investigations.

Keywords: Problem Based Learning, Mathematics, Pre-service teachers, Traditional teaching method

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