Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan's School of Education (SOE) recently led the second instalment of its Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) workshop series, “Mapping and Documenting OBE Practices – A Comprehensive Handbook and Toolkit,” held on 5 November 2024, at Mountain View College, Valencia, Bukidnon. This workshop aimed to equip educators from partner institutions with practical tools and frameworks for implementing OBE principles effectively in their respective institutions.
As the lead institution, Xavier Ateneo was joined by representatives from Magsaysay College, Mountain View College, Opol Community College, and Pilgrim Christian College. Participants engaged in sessions designed to deepen their understanding of OBE methodologies and document educational transformations as part of a broader commitment to learner-centered education.
The initial sessions revolved around revisiting the Proofs of Transformation to evidence OBE practices and showcasing these in the OBE Handbook and Toolkit document. Dr Kathleen M Morales, FHEA, Professional Education Coordinator at Xavier Ateneo’s SOE and Assistant to the Vice President for Higher Education for Curriculum and Instruction express that this engagement is a Community of Practice in action. Dr Morales guided attendees through the OBE Handbook and Toolkit, underscoring the significance of structured documentation to capture student progress and transformation.
Dr Charity Rose A Pagara, Director of the Graduate School Program of the XU SOE, further elaborated on crafting Program Outcomes (POs), Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs), and curriculum mapping. Her session included in-depth discussions on establishing performance indicators and designing measurement systems, equipping educators with the skills to monitor and evaluate student learning outcomes effectively.
An interactive segment facilitated collaborative sharing among educators, where participants discussed best practices and innovative strategies to enhance OBE application within their own programs. This sharing of experiences encouraged cross-institutional learning and fostered a community atmosphere focused on continuous improvement.
Mr Ismael B Salarda, Director of the Arrupe Educational Center, the Social Development office of XU SOE, shared the importance of collaboration across institutions to strengthen OBE practices, expand research opportunities, and deepen social engagement. He noted that partnerships in OBE allow for shared resources and diverse insights, enhancing both curriculum development and student assessment practices. Salarda also highlighted research as a key area for cooperation, where joint projects can address community needs through robust, data-driven insights. He further expressed that collaborative social engagements empower institutions to tackle pressing societal issues, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and impact that benefits both academic communities and the broader society.
The workshop concluded with an outline of future steps, including virtual follow-up sessions and in-person collaborations among the participating institutions. These planned activities aim to reinforce the workshop's objectives, ensuring that OBE practices are sustained and further developed across the academic community.