Challenges Faced by Educators in Adapting OBE

Although Outcome Based Education has many benefits, it is quite challenging for educators to follow this new approach of teaching.

The majority of the institutions that follow the OBE model face the problem of managing the records of students. They also face problems in defining the course outcome and curriculum.

In order to avoid these problems, you need to be aware of all the major challenges faced by educators when it comes to OBE.

In this article, we are going to discuss the challenges faced by educators in adapting OBE. 

4 Major Challenges of OBE

Here are the 4 major challenges you might come across when the following Outcome Based Education model.

Planning Curriculum

The challenges of designing an appropriate curriculum for an OBE program are many. First, the OBE curriculum assumes that all students are ready to learn at the same level. It is essential that teachers maintain high expectations and make significant curricular changes, which may not be feasible within the mandated objectives of the OBE. The biggest obstacle to designing an OBE curriculum is a lack of expertise in this area. The OBE approach is based on outcomes rather than on inputs. Outcomes are expected to be concrete and measurable and should not be subjective. A complete system of outcomes could range from the recitation of facts to the analysis of complex issues. The curriculum should be built from the endpoint and not from the beginning. This way, students will learn more in the long run, and teachers can tailor their courses to meet the desired outcomes. Another challenge of OBE is defining a clear framework for the outcomes. 

Analyzing Assessment Pattern

OBE aims to enhance adult learning and performance by examining the future of education. To meet this goal, educators must design and model their programs around a dynamic template. Identifying PLOs and LOs is an essential first step in improving OBE. Using educational objectives for program evaluation can improve the performance of OBE. The process of identifying curricular objectives will allow for the creation of more flexible and relevant programs. However, this process is not easy. Educators face a lot of problems in prioritizing the weightage of assessments. They also find it difficult to map and measure the COs and POs. There is also a huge possibility of errors in assessment. 

Managing Records of Students

Managing Records of Students is a fundamental challenge in OBE. A central guideline for course teachers should provide the appropriate support to manage records of students. One of the most common complaints against OBE is the high workload placed on instructors and educational institutions. This is partly true. Keeping track of dozens of separate student outcomes takes more time than simply reporting that a student passed a mathematics class. It is true that more data means higher costs, but the burden does not necessarily follow. Rather, the burden of reporting is an underlying problem. Managing Records of Students is the key challenge of OBE. The process can be cumbersome, especially if a number of students are enrolled in different subjects. 

Analyzing Student Database

One of the biggest challenges in OBE is analysing student databases. Keeping tabs on all the students and managing the vast student database is a big hassle for educators. It is a draining task and needs a lot of time and patience. The daily activities of the students need to be monitored, and their progress needs to be tracked. As educators don’t have the proper knowledge and training to manage such a huge database, they face a lot of problems. Fortunately, Camu’s OBE solutions can help educators to easily manage the database, manage records, analyse assuagement patterns and plan curriculum easily with SIS and LMS features.