Presenter: Prof. Dr. Deepthi C. Bandara
Introduction:
Outcomes are defined as something that follows as a result or consequence. Hence students’ learning outcomes are described as “written statements of what a learner is expected to know, understand and/or be able to do at the end of a period of learning” (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (2010)). It is an essential feature that needs to be ensured in effective teaching/learning scenarios. Hence as university administrators, program coordinators and teachers, we have to define outcomes as performance/s in stipulated conditions for an expected standard. In assuring the quality of such outcomes many aspects need consideration. In the current context of the influence of COVID-19, this becomes even more challenging since when HEIs confer qualifications on their students it is a declaration that such outcomes were achieved. In this scenario, it is inevitable that both teachers and learners make extra effort to achieve the outcomes. This, of course, would have to be supported by HEI administrations.
In normal situations (pre-COVID), many countries have clearly stated the descriptors based on learning outcomes for each level of education. These learning outcome descriptors in higher education are then used as indicators and standards of higher education QA. The assessment strategies of higher education are the rational basis to check the achievement of learning outcomes. Thus, the influence of COVID-19 has posed new challenges in achieving the outcomes and to assure their quality. A three-pronged approach involving administrators, teachers and students would be necessary to ensure this. It is hoped we could have a productive discussion during the online forum. Please do send me your questions, so we could try and answer them better.
Key questions to reflect from the topic:
1. How do you ensure the achievement of learning outcomes at your HEI in normal situations?
2. What measures were taken to ensure the above with the impact of COVID 19- would you like to share them?
Additional material (i.e. reading list or links to useful websites).
https://eua.eu/events/134-eua-webinar-covid-19-and-changes-in-learning-and-teaching.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpGx3z62p2w&feature=youtu.be