Outcomes-based education: an effective approach?
First of all it is important to know ,What actually Is Outcome-Based Education?
Its like there are many horror stories about entire classes of high school seniors who graduate without the ability to read, write, or do simple math. Outcome-based education doesn't work that way.
Outcome-Based Education (OBE) is a learning approach that focuses entirely on student competency. No matter how long it takes, what approach is required, or what assessment activity is best, success for each student is the only goal, and success is measured by the student's ability to meet previously-established outcome criteria.
• Setting Outcomes
In OBE systems, you can't just assign a textbook, homework, quizzes, and a series of tests for every student. The classroom becomes a success-producing laboratory, where you're constantly searching for approaches that work for each individual student. Like any laboratory experiment, though, you must first set the success criteria.
An outcome is a specific capability that may be demonstrated by the student. You start at graduation. What capabilities define successful completion of their programs? Then you work your way back. If you're a K-12 institution, then your kindergarten classroom will have established outcomes that ultimately lead to what the seniors should be able to do when they graduate.
For example, perhaps you require that your graduates be able to define a derivative. There are many steps between kindergarten and 12th grade that result in the ability to define a derivative, including number sense competencies, algebraic understanding, graphing, etc. When you're mapping outcomes for your math programs, you will work your way backward. You'll set outcomes in graphing, algebraic manipulation, non-linear equations, etc., all the way back to kindergarten number sense. Each earlier outcome will be a success milestone toward the achievement of the graduation outcomes.
• Achieving Outcomes
The OBE system focuses on learning, rather than teaching, so the instructor is more like a coach. Just move your students toward successful outcomes. Collaborate with them and with other teachers. Find paths to success for each student. Always have multiple learning paths available for your students.
Focus is critical. What you teach, how you teach it, and how you assess it are all aligned with the intended learning outcomes. Your effectiveness is completely measured by student success. There is no place in OBE for the teacher or professor who announces that half the class will fail or that no student will get 100%.
It's not easy. Deliberately adjusting your instructional level and approach for every one of your students can be overwhelming. Every student is an individual learning project, and your job is to ensure that each student is given the maximum opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. There's a lot of work and innovation involved. On the other hand, the abundance of successes can be quite rewarding!