Procedure
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Pre Simulation Activities

Teacher

  • Collects an email list of students
  • Introduces the VIBu concept to the learners

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    Learners

  • Prepare the pre-assignments
  • Jointly create a shifts plan
  • Get acquianted with their team members

    • 1st Simulation Day

    Learners

    The virtual world is active for 10-12 hours during which the learners engage in real-time decision making activities together with their international team members. Work is organized according to the shifts plan. Responsibility usually shifts from east to west.

    See how the collaboration looks like.
    Between Simulations

    Learners

    Assignments

  • Self-reflecting essay on selected learning themes
  • Business plan for the 2nd simulation day
  • Assignments given by the local educators
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    As the basis of their business plan the participants use the business results from the 1st simulation day - see an example (Excel, 3MB).

    2nd Simulation Day

    Learners

    The 2nd session is similar to the first one, with the exception that as the business is already familiar to the learners, the simulation clock speed is faster, allowing to see the longer term effects of the decisions.

    During both simulation days, the facilitators arrange video conference results sessions - see an example (video stream, 95MB).

    Post Simulation Activities

    Learners

    Assignments

  • Self-reflecting essay on selected learning themes
  • Assignments given by the local teachers
    •  

    Essays and assignments returned within 2 weeks from the 2nd session

    Simulation day

    In each VIBu session we can accommodate some 120-200 learners from as many as 10 different countries. One session can take up to 14 hours with shifts moving according to time zones from east to west. Learners agree on the shifts within their team before the simulation sessions. Depending on the size and the length of the sessions, one team comprises of 8-12 students – in an optimal situation all come from different universities.

    In each team there should be at least two learners online at any time during the simulation days - not having anyone in charge will most probably soon cause problems in the business processes. Local teachers have the possibility to follow the session. Thus, they can monitor the team decision making in real-time and take part in the online discussions.

    Tools

    During the simulation sessions we use reliable and easy-to-use virtual communication tools. These tools include a remote connection software to be used in connecting to the simulation, VoIP calls between all the participants, chat as the global market place, and video conferencing during the results sessions. Upon this the teams may choose to use other virtual communication tools for intra and extra team communication.

    What is needed to participate in VIBu is a reliable Internet connection and an Internet browser software. That is all!

    VIBu © 2014 | Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku | Layout by Studio Sangria