Expand Your Horizons Through Problem-Based Learning 

Our purpose is to improve student learning through the use of professional learning communities and to facilitate the effectiveness of PLCs through the use of the problem-based learning method and mindset.

Terry Goodin is a professor of education at Middle Tennessee State University. He received his BGS from Western Kentucky University, his MEd from David Lipscomb University, and his EdD from Vanderbilt University.

Terry has both K-12 and higher education teaching experience, as well as 13 years of corporate experience in the world of marketing. Dr. Goodin’s primary focus is in the area of problem-based learning (PBL), which includes authoring or co-authoring book chapters, making local presentations, delivering papers and conference presentations, writing articles, conducting workshops, and designing PBL events. Since the late 90s, he has worked with universities at the state, regional, and national levels on the design and use of PBL in a variety of disciplines and has conducted training for schools, universities, and corporations. He played an integral part in the redesign of the teacher education program in his state, using the PBL method. He has developed PBL events for teachers and professors to use in their practice, and he regularly consults and advises colleagues on the use of the PBL method. His ongoing work is in the design of PBL curricula at all levels, assisting others in their teaching practice, and envisioning the future of PBL.

Heather K. Dillard is an associate professor of education at Middle Tennessee State University.

Heather received her BS in Geoscience Education, MS in Curriculum and Instruction, EdS in Curriculum and Technology from MTSU, and EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee State University. After working as a middle and high school social studies teacher for 16 years, she has spent the last 11 years working with both undergraduate teacher candidates and graduate students in both master’s and doctoral programs at MTSU. She teaches the Schools as Professional Learning Communities Class in the Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement EdD Program that was designed by PLC at Work and co-creator Dr. Robert Eaker. She has authored and co-authored book chapters, research articles, and magazine articles, primarily about professional learning communities at work. Heather regularly presents workshops on PLC concepts and consults with administrative teams at various schools to assist in their PLC development.