An Online Resource Hub for Engineering Faculty: Providing Practical Information and Support for Outcomes-Based Education

Abstract

Faculty resistance toward outcomes-based education (OBE) can be sorted into two categories— lack of understanding and lack of resources—and can be addressed by leadership through increased education and communication. With this in mind, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta has created an online OBE Resource Hub on its faculty intranet, guided by the question, “What kinds of education and communication do faculty require to gain knowledge and acceptance of OBE, and therefore be engaged and motivated in the process?” Artifacts on the ever-growing site include theoretical and practical information in the form of articles, tipsheets, videos, and external links. This article showcases the site, since an initiative of this nature might be of interest to other post-secondary faculties working toward OBE.

Engineering Education in Canada in the Wake of Covid-19 Pandemic

“…This process promotes continual improvement of engineering education in Canada, and ensures that engineering graduates are academically fit to meet the standards of professional engineering licensing process. This is referred to as outcomes-based education (OBE) system in which the focus is placed on the outcome (knowledge and skills gained by students) rather than input (materials presented and taught to students) [2,3].…”

“…Despite the flexibility offered by asynchronous mode of delivery, especially in the online format, it introduces new challenges and could intensify the already-existing issues. Implementation of technologies and provision of adequate technical support to students and the instructors are among the newly introduced challenges while increased workload, potential loss of academic freedom, and possibility of unfavorable teaching evaluation are among the currently existing issues [3]. Implementing new technologies in online learning such as using software for recording lectures and editing videos along with development of student assessment methods such as assignments and exams in an online format are extremely time consuming and labor intensive.…”