Semantic-based online Outcome-based education measurement system

Abstract

This paper proposes an online Outcome-based Education (OBE) Measurement System, which promotes a centralized OBE data repository for an institution, allowing concurrent online transactions between distributed multi-users. A well-known OBE framework currently being followed by most higher learning institutions in Malaysia is based on the four to seven levels of learning outcomes; a hierarchy commonly composed of course outcomes, program outcomes, program educational objectives, learning outcomes and soft-skill outcomes. The last two learning-outcomes were outlined by the Ministry of Higher Education serving as a standard guideline to be followed by all higher learning institutions in Malaysia. In connecting between the different levels of learning-outcomes, mappings or links between the different levels were pre-defined. Based on these mappings, OBE measurement activities could be carried out across all levels, indicating learning performance achievement reflected at different degrees and perspectives. To accelerate such evaluation processes, we propose a novel online-system design for our OBE measuring engine, adopting semantic notion in defining the concepts of learning-outcomes and their mappings.