Outcome-Based Education (OBE)

Overview

Mohamed Nadzri Mohd Yusoff (Hj.)

Presentation Outcomes

At the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to:• Explain the concept, philosophy, principles and applications of OBE• Explain why MOHE advocates OBE as the basis for higher education in

Malaysia• Explain the relevancy of OBE in Malaysian higher education

What is OBE?

• “Education that is outcome-based, is a learner centered, results oriented system founded on the belief that all individuals can learn”

• James Towers (1996)

What is OBE?

OBE is education based on producing particular educational outcomes that:•focuses on what students can actually do after they are taught;•expect all learners/students to successfully achieve particular (sometimes minimum) level of knowledge and abilities.

Why OBE?

The proof of good education and training is in finding whether:

– learning has really taken place – learning has equipped learners with the skills

and knowledge that will enable them to solve authentic problems in a workplace situation.

Why OBE?• the quality of education:

– highly valued by the community and by nations; – seen as fundamental to being successful in this knowledge

age. • What matters today :

– good education and training =key aspects for being successful in life.

• It is too time-consuming for learners to attend academic institutions; get qualifications and then still have to get in-service training to be able to do the job.

• Therefore, good education and training should not only be of an academic nature, but it should also prepare learners adequately for the workplace.

• Communication (verbal & written) 4.69• Honesty/Integrity 4.59• Teamwork skills 4.54• Interpersonal skills 4.50• Strong work ethics 4.46• Motivation & initiative 4.42• Flexibility/adaptability 4.41• Analytical skills 4.36• Computer skills 4.21• Organisational skills 4.05• Detail oriented 4.00• Leadership skills 3.97• Self confidence 3.95• Friendly/outgoing personality 3.85• Well mannered / polite 3.82• Tactfulness 3.75• GPA (3.0 or better) 3.68• Creativity 3.59• Sense of humour 3.25• Entrepreneurial skills/risk taker 3.23

Employers Rating of Skills/Qualities – 2002

(EAC, 2004)

Why OBE?

Why OBE?

What is OBE?

OBE is education based on producing particular educational outcomes that:•focuses on what students can actually do after they are taught;•expect all learners/students to successfully achieve particular (sometimes minimum) level of knowledge and abilities.

IT’S NOT WHAT WE TEACH, IT’S WHAT THE STUDENTS LEARN

What is OBE?

BASIC TYPES OF OUTCOMES FROM EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

• First:– Includes performance indicators such as test results,

completion rates, post-course employment rates, etc• Second:

– Less tangible– Usually expressed in terms of :

• What students know• What they are able to do• What are they like as a result of their education

(Killen R.,2000)

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUTCOMES-BASED EDUCATION

MASTERY LEARNINGAcquisition of cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills under appropriate

conditions.

COMPETENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAcquisition of a group of skills that bring about competence in specific field,

which is assessed against pre-set benchmarks mostly defined by industry

OUTCOMES-BASED EDUCATIONDemonstration of acquired generic skills in different contexts, that are

assessed against pre-set criteria agreed upon by all stakeholders

(Robert E. Gerber, 1996)

COMMON APPROACHES TO OBE

• emphasises student mastery of traditional subject-related academic outcomes (usually with a strong focus on subject-specific content) and some cross-discipline outcomes (such as the ability to solve problems or to work co-operatively)

• emphasises longterm, cross-curricular outcomes that are related directly to students’ future life roles (such as being a productive worker or a responsible citizen or a parent)

(Spady, 1994 in Killen R.,2000)

OBE basic foundations• All students can learn and succeed, but not all in the same

time or in the same way.• Successful learning promotes even more successful learning.• Schools (and teachers) control the conditions that determine

whether or not students are successful at school learning.

OBE Requisites• What the students learn must be clearly identified.• The student’s progress is based on demonstrated

achievement.• Multiple instructional and assessment strategies need to be

available to meet the needs of each student.• Adequate time and assistance need to be provided so that

each student can reach the maximum potential

OBE vs. Traditional Education (Content-Based Learning)

Content Based Learning System Outcomes Based Learning System

Passive students Active learnersAssessment process – exam & grade driven Continuous assessment

Rote learning Critical thinking, reasoning, reflection & action

Content based/broken into subjects Integration knowledge, learning relevant/ connected real life situations

Textbook/worksheet focused & teacher centred Learner centred & educator/ facilitator use group/ teamwork

See syllabus as rigid & non negotiable Learning programmes seen as guides that allow educators to be innovative & creative in designing programmes/ activities

Teachers/trainers responsible for learning - motivated by personality of teacher

Learners take responsibility for their learning, learners motivated by constant feedback/ affirmation of worth

Emphasis what teacher hopes to achieve Emphasis outcomes – what learner becomes & understands

Content placed in rigid time frames Flexible time frames - learners work at own pace

Paradigm Shift in the Education & Training Philosophy

• From teacher-centered (TCL)

• Traditional teaching teacher owns” the knowledge and convey it to the students.

• Teacher brings the content and the answers into the classroom/ training room with him / her.

• to a student-centered (SCL)

• SCL Based teaching : students (trainee) to learn as much as possible.

• teacher as a coach who asks questions and provides guidelines for the acquisition of knowledge.

(R.E. Gerber, 1996 in Shahrin Mohamed, 2007 )

Principles of OBE a) Clarity of focus about outcomes

– Always have the outcomes as the focus.– Let the students know what they are aiming for.

b) Designing backwards – Design curriculum backward by using the major outcomes as the focus and

linking all planning, teaching and assessment decisions directly to these outcomes.

c) Consistent, high expectations of success– Set the expectation that OBE is for ALL learners.– Expect students to succeed by providing them encouragement to engage deeply

with the issues they are learning and to achieve the high challenging standard set (Spady, 1994).

d) Expanded opportunity– Develop curriculum to give scope to every learner to learn in his/her own pace.– Cater for individual needs and differences, for example, expansion of available

time and resources so that all students succeed in reaching the exit outcomes.

(R.E. Gerber, 1996 in Shahrin Mohamed, 2007 )

OBE Emphasis?

ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES

• OBE is assessment driven

• Assessment is used to determine whether or not a qualification/ condition/ criterion/ skill has been achieved

• To determine whether learners are successful, (i.e. whether students know they have learnt well) the learners must be assessed using the assessment criteria of the outcome

Relevancy of OBE

Rating/Accreditation requirements:

1. Quality Assurance Audit by the Ministry of Higher Education: Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) – emphasis on learning outcomes.

2. Accreditation Requirement for Professional Programmes by professional bodies emphasizes learning outcomes

Real Benefits of OBE

Anticipation of real benefits– More directed & coherent curriculum– Graduates will be more “relevant” to industry & other

stakeholders (more well rounded graduates)– Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is an inevitable

consequence

• OBE is an educational process.

• Directed/focussed at achieving certain specified outcomes in terms of individual student learning.

• Outcomes - key things students should understand and be able to do or the qualities they should develop.

• Both structures and curricula are designed to achieve those capabilities or qualities.

• Educational structures and curriculum are regarded as means not ends. If they do not do the job they are rethought (Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)).

Therefore, OBE ………………

OBE is a process that involves the restructuring of curriculum, assessment and reporting practices in education to reflect the achievement of high order learning and mastery rather than accumulation of course credits.

Amongst Expected Changes:– Curriculum Restructuring/Revision– Innovative/Flexible Delivery Method– Variety of Assessment & Evaluation Methods– Collection of Evidences– Continuous Quality Improvement (Closing the Loop (CDL))

Therefore, OBE ………………

Planning (1)

Developing (2)

Implementing (3)

Evaluating (4)

OBE PROCESS

Evaluate / analyse

Closing the Loop (CDL)

CQI Report

Curriculum REVIEW

Course Outcomes (CO)

SLT

Curriculum

AssessmentsTL Activities

Credit Hour

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Summative Assessment

Curriculum

Documenting

Evidences

Lesson Plan

Test Blueprint

Marking Scheme

Student Portfolio

Formative Assessment

Entrance/Exit Surveys

Rubrics

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Academic Level

CurriculumPEO

Program Outcomes (PO)

ProgramStandards

SO…………???

RECAP 1

What is OBE?

•OBE is an educational process.

•Directed/focussed at achieving certain specified outcomes in terms of individual student learning.

RECAP 2

What is outcome?• a statement on what students should know,

understand and can do upon the completion of a period of study. (MQF)

RECAP 3

Why OBE?• PSPTN – Pelan Strategik Pengajian Tinggi

Negara• Objective: Produce human capital with first-

class mentality• Method: Teaching and Learning in institution

must be based on outcomes (what the students know, understand and can do)

RECAP 4

Why OBE? (Document of References)• MQF- Malaysian Qualification Framework• MQA Act 679

RECAP 5

What is MQF?• Instrument that develops and classifies qualifications

– How? Clarifies:• Academic qualifications• Learning outcomes• Credit system based on student academic

workload

RECAP 6

What is MQA ?• a single quality assurance agency in Malaysia

responsible to assure quality of programs offered by higher education providers.

• established under Act 679 to implement MQF