Role of Faculty Development in Successful OBE Implementation

Educational institutions are evolving globally. They are shifting their focus from rote learning to a more learner-centric approach. The education industry has started understanding its long-term benefits in the education system and its contribution in building a strong society. In addition to the necessity of Outcome Based Education (OBE), there is also a recognized need for Faculty Development Programs (FDP) within the education system. It is important for the faculty to have adequate resources to provide a quality education that fosters students’ all-round development. Unlike the traditional methods that focus more on the content delivery, OBE emphasizes on achieving measurable skills and predefined competencies. The focus here is not only the curriculum restructure but the effectiveness of the faculty as well.

In this blog, we will understand what OBE is and the role of faculty in OBE implementation. Additionally, we will discuss MasterSoft’s role in facilitating faculty development. So let’s get started.

Understanding Outcome Based Education (OBE)

Outcome-based education is an educational framework developed in recent times. It focuses on achieving a defined learning outcome. Unlike the traditional ways of teaching which is mostly one way and emphasizes on rote memorization, the OBE focuses more on the applicability of the skill gained from the knowledge. This helps them tackle real-life problem-solving and gain skills that are industry specific and aligns with the job role they are aiming for. The institutes benefit from improving accountability, better alignment with accreditation requirements, and improved employability.

However, the catch lies in implementation of the OBE so that the students’ progress can be gauged with ease.

The Role of Faculty in OBE Implementation

The growth in institutions is witnessing a lack of well-trained teachers. With changing demands in higher education, we can expect an increase in demand for skilled teachers in the near future. The role of such faculty members is essential in implementing a successful OBE in the institution as they are the means of translating the institution goals to meaningful student experience. Let us discuss this in further detail.

Curriculum Structuring

The faculty is instrumental in creating a curriculum that corresponds with the intended learning outcomes. It guarantees that the curriculum is in line with accreditation standards and supports competency-based education.

Learner-Centric Teaching

The faculty members also focus on student-centric teaching that is very unlike the traditional means. The strategies like project-based learning, flipped classroom and case studies make the teaching more lively and engaging. It encourages the students to build their problem-solving skills along with critical thinking.

Continuous Improvement

The institution's faculty carefully curates assessments to ensure students' ongoing improvement. They use the detailed data to analyse the learning gaps and address the students personally. This boosts the confidence of the students.

Student Support

OBE or no OBE, faculty members have always been a great source of student support. However, with a structured OBE, the goals are defined and hence the mentorship more effective. They help the students achieve the learning goals and take ownership of their learning journey.

Why Faculty Development is Critical for OBE Success?

• Bridging the Knowledge Gap

  Many of the teachers continue to depend on conventional teaching methods and might not fully grasp the idea of OBE. Hence, faculty training is essential for a better implementation of OBE. Without proper knowledge, the faculty might not be able to align their teaching methods with the intended outcomes.

• Consistent Implementation

  Inconsistent implementation of the OBE across departments deteriorates the quality of outcome achieved. Consistent implementation improves the overall compliance and the educational quality being imparted.

• Addressing Resistance

  The introduction of new methodologies of teaching might be susceptible to resistance. Seminars and webinars that make them understand the benefits of OBE might prove fruitful. Proper training fosters positive mindsets and helps the faculty members to embrace the change.

• Aligning with Accreditation Standards

  OBE requires the teachers to align their teaching with the industrial advancements and accreditation standards. Training them properly ensures that the faculty members are trained well and are particularly updated. This further ensures that the students graduate with the required skillsets to excel in their careers.

• Boosting Faculty Confidence

  Proper knowledge in any sphere boosts confidence. Same is the case with OBE training for faculties. When the faculty is well-trained, they feel more confident to impart the required knowledge. This leads to better student engagement and improved learning outcomes.

• Improving Institutions’ Reputation

  Properly trained faculty contribute to better performing students. Institutions with skilled faculty are better positioned for accreditation standards. This further improves their reputation and gives them a competitive edge.

MasterSoft’s Role in Facilitating Faculty Development

MasterSoft can be your partner to success with its state-of-the-art features. It simplifies attaining the mapping and attainment of educational outcomes. It supports clearly defined course outcomes (COs), program educational outcomes (PEOs), program outcomes (POs), and program-specific outcomes (PSOs). Our platform integrates for efficient curriculum design keeping Bloom’s taxonomy as its reference. The core features of our system include direct and indirect attainment analysis, real-time feedback, and detailed reporting. Furthermore, with its comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities, it helps in doing gap analysis.

With all these features, MasterSoft helps the institutions to implement OBE. Additionally, it helps the faculty members to use OBE with its full potential. Features like gap analysis help them to provide special attention to the students who need it the most, improving the overall quality of education imparted.