While a business challenge or problem could be valuable, Im having a hard time figuring out

what would work for both our sets of students. Most of the articles and cases I have found are
fairly US-centric. Rather than doing a case study type of exercise, how about getting students
to work together on issues that affect them more personally?

Im thinking that getting students engaged with each other in discussion is the objective. Talking
about how life as a student is different in the Budapest and Los Angeles (Hungary/US) should
be both enlightening and entertaining. Then the recent article on Data Visualization got me
thinking about how data can be used to tell a story. So I was thinking of posing the following
challenge scenario to each group with the deliverable being a short presentation using
PowerPoint or Prezi (or other presentation software) and including some data (facts & figures)
to tell their story.

STUDENT PROMPT:
You have been asked by your school to help inform a group of students who are going to be
exchange students between USC and Obuda University next year. You are a group of expert
consultants (your group) who has been asked to provide information and advice. Using all of
the resources available to you - your own experience, knowledge and expertise as well as the
Web consider the following questions (note to LK: one per group; I included more than we
need and you should feel free to edit or add others). The prompts are just to get you started
and should not limit your exploration of the bigger topic. Reflecting on how data can tell stories
(pre-session readings), create a short 5 minute presentation that communicates the information
and your opinions or recommendations. Faculty members will be available for questions and
facilitating.

How is campus life different?
o College culture (history, traditions, etc.)
o Student body (where students come from, number of students)
o Where do students live?
o What other campus life issues are important?
How is academic life different?
o Different classroom expectations (lecture vs. discussion, how to participate, )
o Different academic expectations (marking, workload, etc)
o How do students and professors relate inside and outside of the classroom?
(office hours, social events, teaching assistants, etc.)
How is the job market different for recent graduates?
o What are typical positions for new graduates?
o How do undergraduates prepare for professional jobs? (internships, placement
office, networking, etc.)
o Where and how do recent graduates look for jobs?
How is it different getting around Los Angeles vs Budapest and USA vs Hungary?
o Is there a reliance on private or public transportation?
o Do you travel around the city? Outside the city? Why? What for?
How are social expectations and customs different?
o Social customs (tipping, personal interactions, meeting people, etc.)
o How do students spend their free time?
How is the food and dining experience different?
o Where do students eat their meals?
o What are popular snack foods or drinks?
o Are there any social norms around dining and food that are important to know?
How is your generation different from your parents generation?
o How are your parents similar? Different?
o How is your life experience so far different from your parents? Socially,
politically, economically, etc.?
o What are the burning issues of your generation vs your parents? (What do they
care about? What about you?)
How do students engage in their nations political life?
o Discussions of voting, campaigning, important issues that get students interested
o How are the political systems different? Are they similar?
What areas of study are popular?
o What are the most popular majors? Are there minors?
o What areas of study would you recommend for a student coming to your school?
Why?

DELIVERABLE: A five-minute PowerPoint or Prezi (or other presentation software)
presentation. The presentation should include communicating information and data in a
compelling and interesting manner (facts & figures) to tell your story. Can you tell your story in
images (graphs, pictures) as well as text? You will be judged on relevant content, depth and
breadth of content, and the professional quality of the presentation (consideration will be given
the time constraints). Your presentation should be accurate and convincing. You are
presenting to both students and faculty, so please include some entertainment value as well as
educational value.

Pre Session Readings:

Please read and reflect on the following three short articles before we meet on Thursday
afternoon. This information should provide some background in order to create the best
presentation.

How Data Visualization Answered One of Retailss Most Vexing Questions by Gretchen Gavett,
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/05/how-data-visualization-answered-one-of-retails-most-vexing-
questions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+harvardbus
iness%2Fweekly-hotlist+%28HBR+Blog+Network+Newsletter+Feed+-
+Weekly+Hotlist%29&cm_ite=WeeklyHotlist-
051214+%281%29&cm_lm=sp%3Ajody.tolan%40marshall.usc.edu&cm_ven=Spop-Email

How to Tell a Story with Data by Jim Stikeleather, http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/04/how-to-tell-a-
story-with-data/

Visualize This: How to Tell Stories with Data by Maria Popova,
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/07/26/visualize-this-nathan-yau/ This has links to
other examples of using creative ways to communicate data.