Making the Classroom Inevitable: The Role of Dialogic Learning in Problem-Based Learning Environments

Abstract

This case study examines how dialogic learning and teaching (DLT) can strengthen problem-based learning (PBL). Conducted in a fifth-semester communication course at Aalborg University, Denmark, the intervention explored whether the physical classroom can function as a meaningful dialogic space that enhances group work, collaboration, and student responsibility in alignment with PBL. Drawing on theoretical accounts of dialogue, particularly Wegerif’s framework, the study investigated class-level and group-level dialogue facilitated by the teacher rather than self-facilitated dialogue outsourced to isolated student groups. Empirical findings from surveys and classroom observations indicate that DLT fostered deeper engagement, strengthened mutual accountability, and improved students’ willingness to contribute, while also revealing tensions such as reduced opportunities for digital note-taking and the significant time required for high-quality dialogue. The study concludes that DLT can substantively enrich PBL by supporting shared problem exploration and collaborative meaning-making when adequate time and flexibility are provided.