Seeing and Hearing is Believing, But Eating is Knowing: A Case Study of Implementing PBL in a Master of Educational Management Program

Early adopters of PBL in management education emphasized the integration of PBL with learning technologies. In this chapter, we describe the use of problem-based learning in an online graduate degree program in Hong Kong. More specifically, we focus on one course, Leading Organizational Change, which was organized around a problem-based computer simulation. We describe the structure and learning approach of the online course, design of the computer simulation, and the assessment framework. In addition, we analyze data on student use of the simulation, the nature of student interaction, as well as learning results and responses to the course. We conclude that problem-based learning provides a powerful pedagogical framework for online learning. Moreover, when combined with computer simulation, it becomes possible to extend the observed benefits of problem-based learning and potentially enhance the transfer of knowledge and skills.