Bridging Between Craft and Academic Knowledge: A Computer Supported, Problem-based Learning Model for Professional Preparation in Special Education

This article describes and discusses Project CASELINK, an OSEP-funded three-year project that uses a problem-based learning (PBL) perspective to frame design and development of eight interactive multimedia modules on the Internet to augment new and existing introductory courses in special education anywhere in the nation. The project responds to critical questions about the distinction between craft knowledge that develops from practical experience and academic knowledge acquired through formal study. CASELINK attempts to bridge the gap between these ways of knowing so that all relevant professional knowledge can be identified and applied to improving outcomes for students with disabilities. We describe how and why interactive, multimedia, and distance learning technologies are used by CASELINK in support of the larger purposes of problem-based learning.

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