How Outcome-based learning can advance the knowledge and skill in youth

Outcome-based education (OBE) is a visionary objective to bring reform in higher education for the upskilling of students according to the demands of 21^st century society. Our traditional education system is more focused on rote learning and less emphasis is given to improve the skills of students including communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical skills, working attitude etc. that enable them to meet the global demands of the 21st century.  OBE is a student-centric education paradigm that measures the students’ progress in terms of predefined outcomes so as to attain knowledge, skills and attitude to compete with their global counterparts. 

Implementation of OBE framework

In the world of multidisciplinary and flexible learning, it is essential to encourage the effective implementation of Outcome based education models in Colleges and Universities. To implement the OBE model, the first step is to outline a set of learning outcomes and once the outcomes are structured, all the imperative components and activities of learners are framed in line with the desired outcomes and the learners are encouraged to demonstrate the outcomes to gauge their learning achievements.

OBE framework consists of following components:

• Vision and Mission
• PEOs
• POs
• COs
  

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs): Program Educational Objectives (PEO) are predefined attributes or qualities or specific goals that students are expected to demonstrate in their career and professional life after the completion of program. These objectives are framed by taking inputs from the industry partners, students, parents, alumni, faculty and administration and are synced with the Vision and Mission of the department.

Program Outcomes (POs): POs are narrow statements that give the competencies, knowledge and behaviour attributes of students through the journey of their learning program. 

Course Outcomes (COs): COs are statements which are more specific to the courses/subjects and are narrower statements that describe the learning expectations from students at the end of each course.

OBE Framework

After the course outcomes have been determined, the assessment techniques must be devised to measure the attainment level of stated outcomes. Assessment is necessary to govern whether a student or learner has achieved the goals set for him. The outcomes will be used as a feedback approach to maintain and enhance the quality in the future. Depending on the desired course outcome, an appropriate assessment method must be chosen.

Analysis of OBE model

The analysis under OBE implementation constitutes Direct and Indirect assessment methods to gauge the learning abilities of students. Direct Assessments measures are devised by the faculty to analyse how well the student has learnt. Direct assessment procedures include assignment, exam, term paper, project, Laboratory Tests, Quizzes etc.

Indirect assessment measures are more concerned with the student’s perspectives, than how well he has learned the course. Unlike Direct methods, under which evidence of students’ learning are collected in the form of results, indirect measures require the faculty to infer the cognitive abilities of students from feedback, surveys, teaching evaluations etc. 

Attainment and Mapping of Learning Outcomes

COs are framed for each course by its respective faculty member using the appropriate action verbs from Bloom’s taxonomy from the first year to the end of the programme Then, using predefined correlation values a mapping matrix is created between COs and POs, under which value 3 is assigned, if the CO matches strongly with a particular PO criterion; 2 if it matches moderately or 1 if the match is low else mark with “ – ”  The total attainment of a program’s outcomes (POs) is calculated by combining direct and indirect attainment numbers in a predetermined proportion and comparing them to a set value. Any differences from the target value calls for the quality improvement measures.

There are many benefits of OBE including:

• The structuring of outcomes and its analysis of attainment increase the commitment and participation of all stakeholders.
• The clarity of learning outcomes, makes the room for teaching practices to be more creative and result oriented.
• The OBE implementation in Colleges and Universities enhances international recognition and job chances on a global scale for graduates.
• Graduates with professional and soft skills, social responsibility, and ethics are more employable and innovative.
• The OBE paradigm empowers the graduates to flourish in their fields and reach new heights in their jobs and studies.
  

Technological OBE implementation in Higher Education Institutes

OBE has become the buzzword in the skill-oriented education system. Every Higher Education Institute is following the progressive OBE implementation path to produce the young mind who can add value to the society. But its implementation introduces challenges of exhaustive designing and mapping of learning outcomes at each stage for each student. But today technology has the solution to nearly all organizational problems. iCloudEMS is a pathfinder for all education management issues. We have come with the ground-breaking solutions to enhance the digital capabilities of Higher Education Institutes for OBE administration and accelerate continuous quality improvement. Our pioneering products and services are designed to achieve high standard in both administrative and non-administrative operations that include:

• A cloud-based server that can hold a large number of data and records for easy record management, allowing teachers to track the learning status of their course outcomes.
• Innovative technologies enabling faculty members to save their time by automating attendance records, timetable creation, assignment posting, and results reporting.
• Course selection and allocation strategies that support Choice Based Credit System and empower a flexible and progressive learning culture. 
• With a creative outcome designing and mapping methodology, OBE-LMS helps to promote an outcomes-oriented learning by providing interesting course content and assignments.
• Implementation of OBE has become essential to oil the wheels of accreditation in Higher Education Institutes and our Accreditation management system automates and aligns the preparation work for accreditation under OBE model.
• Student-lifecycle management system that allows students to access their whole academic experience with a few clicks, empowering student-centric learning and fostering the Continuous Quality Improvement ecosystem.
• Online Classes and Examinations system to promote strategic execution of OBE in all pre and post examination activities, ranging from the preparation of question papers to the publication of final results, all of which take care of designing and mapping of all components with predetermined outcomes.
• A cost-effective and user-friendly portal with robust reporting options for rapid statistical analysis at all levels.
  

Thus, OBE is a paradigm shift in the education system that is focused on successful learning and demonstration of knowledge, skills, abilities, values, leadership and judgement by students. In a convocation event held in a university it was well said by Shri Prakash Javadekar, MHRD that “Education should not just be input-led, but also be outcome-based”. He also added that “We can judge it by sensing whether the students, who have passed, think only of themselves or whether they think of the society also, whether they are good citizens and whether they are inculcating values to make society better,” 

iCloudEMS facilitates college administrators towards the methodical execution of all strategies and workflow under OBE ideology. We offer cloud capabilities to simplify error-prone and hectic analysis and mapping of COs, POs and PEOs. Our powerful analytic and reporting tools ensure the access of outcomes attainment at the fingertips of stakeholders.