Education

OUTCOMES BASED/ OUTCOMES FOCUSED EDUCATION
OVERVIEW

Prepared by:
Mollie Butler, RN, PhD (Candidate)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OUTCOMES BASED/OUTCOMES FOCUSED EDUCATION 3
  Definitions 3
  OBE Roots 5
  OBE Philosophy 7
  OBE Principles 8
  OBE Purpose 9
  Assessment Criteria 11
SUMMARY 14
REFERENCES 15

OUTCOMES BASED/OUTCOMES FOCUSED EDUCATION

Outcomes based education (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 the accumulation of course credits” (Tucker, 2004). Thus the primary aim of OBE is to facilitate desired changes within the learners, by increasing knowledge, developing skills and/or positively influencing attitudes, values and judgment.   OBE embodies the idea that the best way to learn is to first determine what needs to be achieved. Once the end goal (product or outcome) has been determined the strategies, processes, techniques, and other ways and means can be put into place to achieve the goal.

Definitions

Outcomes are clear learning results that learners have to demonstrate at the end of significant learning experiences: what learners can actually do with what they know and have learned. Outcomes are actions/ performances that embody and reflect learner competence in using content, information, ideas and tools successfully. Geyser (1999) says when learners do important things with what they know they have taken a significant step beyond knowing itself.   Vella, Berardinelli & Burrow (1998) reminds us of the importance of accountability mechanisms (learner assessment) that directly reflect student performance and help learners “know what they know”. Thus outcomes describe the results of learning over a period of time – the results of what is learned versus what is taught.

OBE is defined as a “…comprehensive approach to organizing and operating an education system that is focused in and...