This document provides information for new exchange students attending an introduction session at Maastricht University's School of Business and Economics. It outlines the problem-based learning (PBL) system used, including characteristics of tutorial groups, roles of group members and tutors, and the seven steps of the PBL process. It then provides an example PBL task about WikiLeaks for students to discuss. Finally, it discusses expectations of students and evaluating the introduction session. The overall purpose is to introduce students to the PBL method and provide an example of how tutorial group discussions will be structured.

1. Welcome
to Maastricht University
School of Business and Economics
Sharing Success

2. ?
Problem Based Learning
- Practice session
Introduction Day Exchange Students
31 August 2012
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

3. Characteristics of a tutorial group
• Group of maximum 15 students
• 2-hour-meetings, twice a week
• Pre-discussion –
post discussion of
(realtime) problems
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

4. Problem Based Learning system
• The seven jump
1 Unfamiliar words and definitions
2 Problem statements
3 Brainstorm
4 Analyse and criticise
5 Formulate learning objectives
6 Study the required literature
7 Post discussion
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

5. Roles during the meeting
• Group member
– Is prepared and participates
• Discussion leader
– Sets the agenda
– Guides the discussion
– Encourages participation
– Summarizes the discussion
– Evaluates the group functioning
• Secretary
– Takes note of important elements
that are discussed
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

6. Roles during the meeting - II
• Tutor
– Facilitates/Assists discussion
– Creates a pleasant learning environment
– Contributes knowledge and experience
– Questions everything
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

7. Expectations, and cultural issues
• You need to take responsibility for your own
learning experiences
• The culture at SBE is open and there is little
hierarchy: you are expected to participate and
share your knowledge and ideas.
• Learning though PBL can be
interesting and fun, but you
need to make it so.
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

8. ?
Introduction round
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

9. Introduction round
• Name & age
• Nationality
• Experience studying/living/working abroad?
• Why did you choose to come to UM?
• Expectations of UM?
• Expectations of PBL?
• Do you know anyone who studies/d at UM?
• Home university?
• Educational system at home university
• Major/minor?
• Plans after your current studies?
• Hobbies?
• Interesting summer/winter activities?
• Travel plans for your stay in Maastricht?
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

10. Introduction round
• What would be the most difficult type of food to give up?
• What is one goal you’d like to accomplish in your life?
• If you could visit any place in the world; where and why?
• What’s your ideal dream job?
• What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
• If you had a time machine. Where and when would you travel to?
• If you won €1 million, what would you do with it?
• If you wouldn’t have studied IB/Economics, then…
• If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?
• If you could spend 15 minutes with anyone, who and why?
• If we Googled your name what would we find?
• If you could live in any sitcom, what would it be?
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

11. ?
PBL task: WikiLeaks
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

12. (Un)authorized Leaking of the leaks: WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks is an international, online, not-for-profit organization which leaked
millions of private, secret, and classified information media from anonymous
news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers.
To mention a few, according to Wikipedia, early releases included
documentation of equipment expenditures and holdings in the Afghanistan war
and corruption in Kenya. In April 2010, WikiLeaks published gunsight footage
from the 12 July 2007 Baghdad airstrike in which Iraqi journalists were among
those killed. In July of the same year, WikiLeaks released the ‘Afghan War
Diary’, a compilation of more than 76,900 documents about the War in
Afghanistan, not previously available to the public. In October 2010, the
organization released a package of almost 400,000 documents called ‘the Iraq
War Logs’ in coordination with major commercial media organizations.
It is understandable why the U.S. government was offended by the huge leaks,
which may lead to potential criminal prosecution against its founder, Julian
Assange; but it is less understandable why the social media give out different
opinions on the activities of WikiLeaks:
“We therefore have been deeply grateful for the accomplishments of
WikiLeaks”
“WikiLeaks is not a news organization; it is a criminal enterprise.”
Source: Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks accessed on 20 August 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/opinion/wikileaks-and-the-global-future-of-free-speech.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080202627.html
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success

13. Evaluation and follow-up
- What was it like for you to have this session?
- Do you have any idea what you can expect and what is
expected of you?
- Any more questions?
- Any feedback on this session?
Within 2 weeks, you will be invited to attend a come-
back session to discuss your real PBL experience,
and to get tips on any remaining problems
For more information, please check www.umpblprep.nl and
use the contact form if your question is not covered.
School of Business and Economics Sharing Success