Outcome-based education (OBE) means clearly focusing
and organizing everything in an educational system around what is
essential for all students to be able to do successfully at the end
of their learning experiences. This book examines the issues critical
to understanding and implementing OBE. Chapter 1 addresses a range of
issues related to the meaning of the term "outcome-based education."
It defines key terms and concepts and describes the foundations of
genuine outcome-based models. The second chapter links current
interest in OBE to global socioeconomic changes. Chapter 3 examines
some important issues surrounding thr, meaning of outcomes and
how
they are derived. Four major trends are identified in the fourth
chapter-- classroom reform, program alignment, external
accountability, and system transformation. Chapter 5 shows how the
effects of OBE on students and schools depends on which
implementation approach is used. Common misconceptions about OBE are
clarified in the sixth chapter. The final chapter discusses future
directions of. OBE, in particular, how to sustain it over time. OBE
appears to have a viable future if democratic processes and strong
professional norms prevail in society and education, respectively.
Twenty-five figures and a glossary are included. (LMI)