Design of a virtual PBL learning environment: master in problem based learning (MPBL)

The technological development has created a need for engineers who are oriented towards a global market, have the ability to be involved in interdisciplinary professional and intercultural teams, and who possess lifelong learning competencies. This entails a demand for new educational programmes that are more student-centred. In order to support that development, a new master programme (60 European Credit Transfer System) the Master of Problem Based Learning (MPBL) has been established with the aim to improve engineering education. The master programme addresses staff and is an international distance programme capable of recruiting participants from all over the world. In terms of contents, it is organized exemplary according to the problem-based and project-based learning method and the participants have to experiment and develop their own teaching and curriculum. On the virtual learning side, it is also organized in conformity with the PBL learning principles. However, it has not been an easy task to develop a virtual environment supporting PBL learning principles. In this paper, we will explain the PBL learning principles and how these form the basis for the virtual environment.