Reflection on Outcome-based Education (OBE) Training

On August 15-16, 2024, I attended a two-day training on Outcome-based Learning (OBE) at Level 11, Le Quadri Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The training was conducted by Assistant Professor Dr. Mohammed W. Muhieldeen Al-Gailani, a specialist in Bloom's Taxonomy and the alignment of Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) with Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). His expertise was clear as he adeptly addressed all our questions.

Key Insights

A major takeaway was the structure of a CLO, which should include "Verb + Condition + Standard," with the verb accurately aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy. This precise method of crafting learning outcomes was particularly valuable.

Challenges

I found understanding CLO attainment, PLO attainment, and the calculation of the Course Group Index (CGI) to be challenging. These are essential aspects of the OBE framework that I need to delve into further.

Reflection

This training was extremely beneficial, especially considering I am relatively new to teaching. The review of my course materials during the session revealed areas for improvement, underscoring the need for ongoing refinement. The complexity of the MQA framework and the absence of a standardized system for automating CLO and PLO mapping suggest a need for more efficient tools. Additionally, educators unfamiliar with OBE may find its implementation demanding, given the substantial resources required. 

I also wonder if OBE is applied uniformly across fields like engineering, IT, social sciences, and business, or if it allows for generalization or standardization across these disciplines.

In conclusion, the OBE training provided crucial insights and highlighted the challenges of implementing this educational framework, which will guide my future teaching practices.