Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Higher Education Development Program (HEDP)

Outcome Based Education & Student Centered Learning

A report on the OBE-SCL Workshops conducted at public universities during January, February and March 2018

1st May 2018

Table of Contents

Background ...... 3 Rationale ...... 3 Local OBE-SCL Workshops during Jan, Feb and Mar 2018 ...... 4 The Local OBE-SCL Workshop Objectives: ...... 4 The specific goals of OBE-SCL Trainings are summarized as four modules below: ...... 4 The Major OBE-SCL Training Courses Learning Outcomes: ...... 5 Module 1: ...... 5 Module 2: ...... 5 Module 3: ...... 6 Module 4: ...... 6 Workshop Schedule ...... 6 Location: ...... 9 Participants:...... 9 Training materials: ...... 9 Training Modality: ...... 10 Challenges: ...... 10 Expectations from universities ...... 11 Conclusion ...... 12 Annex: Some photos of OBE-SCL workshops at public universities ...... 12

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Background Afghan universities are largely traditional, with teacher-centered pedagogy and passive student learning. International trends in universities are increasingly moving toward active student centered learning (SCL) and outcome-based education (OBE). These also combine with blended learning where on-line and e- learning methods are integrated with on-site, face-to-face interaction between students and teachers. Afghan universities urgently need to modernize teaching and learning to reflect and keep pace with these international trends. As one of the components in the Higher Education Development Program (HEDP) efforts are taken to modernize and enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Hence, Outcome Based Education & Student Centered Learning approach come into play to achieve this goal. The objective of this theme is to assist universities in introducing modern outcome-based education (OBE) and student-centered learning (SCL) in line with current international trends in higher education. The introduction of OBE and SCL will require new approaches to curriculum design and delivery; innovative teaching methods and techniques; active and dynamic learning models; increased use of higher education publications, and ICT and internet- based resources; and the modernization of assessment systems, at the universities. The Professional Development Centers (PDCs) of universities will play an important role in the provision of continuous professional development and capacity building for university academics, management and technical staff, to introduce and establish OBE and SCL and to use ICT, web-based content and digital resources, for teaching and learning. The degree programs which are considered priorities for the country’s economic development will be the first set of programs to which OBE and SCL will be introduced. Over time, OBE and SCL will be expanded to other degree programs. Rationale The concepts of OBE-SCL have been introduced to the Afghan faculties through various local and overseas workshop. The very first workshop was held on November 21st and 22nd 2015 at the Ministry of Higher Education. This workshop was simply an introduction to the OBE-SCL. The OBE-SCL experts from UTM mentored the Afghan faculties in the workshop. At the end of the workshop based on a mutual agreement between MoHE officials and UTM experts, it was recommended that an advanced OBE-SCL workshop needs to be conducted in near future. Therefore, on April 24th – 3rd May 2016 the advanced workshop was held and nearly 170 Afghan faculties from almost all universities and higher education institutes as well as the 4 OBE-SCL experts of UTM participated. This workshop helped Afghan faculties have a more solid understanding of OBE-SCL concepts. At the end of this workshop, UTM trainers asked the participants to complete a teaching portfolio so that they can win a fellowship to enhance their knowledge on OBE-SCL at UTM in a more Advanced Training of Trainers OBE-SCL workshop. Out of 170 participants 24 faculties from 14 universities have been selected after the assessment of their teaching portfolios by UTM experts. The group of 24 afghan faculties started their academic journey to UTM for ToT OBE-SCL Trainer Certificate workshop. The workshop duration was 12 days. After completion of this workshop the champions were officially certified as OBE-SCL Trainer (Champion). These 24 Champions conducted OBE-SCL workshops at 12 universities and 2 higher education institutes for 10-12 days during January, February, March, July and August 2017. These 24 Champions managed to train 356 faculty staff in OBE-SCL. A certificate of participation was awarded to the 356 participants of these workshops. To strengthen the pool of OBE-SCL Champions, MoHE instructed all public universities to introduce 8 faculty staff that meet the criteria to attend the Advanced ToT OBE-SCL Workshop at the University of

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Technology Malaysia. The introduced faculty staff had to prepare a teaching portfolio which entailed supporting documents such as course syllabus, course learning outcomes, lesson plan, and one assessment sample. Nearly 165 applications (teaching portfolios and supporting documents) were received from all public universities. HEDP with the help of UTM experts reviewed the teaching portfolios and supporting documents. After the meticulous assessment and review of each single applications, 71 faculty staff were shortlisted. The next step was a 20 minute English interview. The panel of interviews with 71 shortlisted faculty staff was composed of MoHE and HEDP staff. The interviewed was designed to gauge the applicants’ level of English proficiency and to learn about the teaching belief and experience as well as find out about their OBE-SCL background knowledge and its practice. After the completion of interview phase, 47 faculty staff out 71 were selected as the winners of the Advanced ToT OBE-SCL Workshop fellowship. 3 out of the 47 finalists withdrew from this program as they went to pursue Ph.D. in India and China. The 44 faculty staff represents all public universities of . Due to the large number of the finalist candidates, and as per suggestion by UTM experts, the 44 was bisected into 22 faculty staff in Batch 1 and 22 Faculty staff in Batch 2. The 22 faculty staff in batch 1 successfully completed the Advanced ToT OBE-SCL workshop during 1-15 October 2017. The other 22 faculty staff in batch 2 also successfully completed the Advanced ToT OBE-SCL workshop during 1-17 April 2018. Now, the total number of OBE-SCL champions across the universities reaches to 68. However, 8 champions had gone overseas to upgrade their knowledge at the level of master and Ph.D. Hence, there are 60 faculty staff as the OBE-SCL Champions/Trainers across all public universities. Local OBE-SCL Workshops during Jan, Feb and Mar 2018 As part of the annual plan on the component of Outcome Based Education & Students Centered Learning, HEDP instructed the champions to conduct the OBE-SL workshops to other faculty staff at their universities. These workshops happened during January, February and March 2018 by the OBE-SCL champions of 2016 and OBE-SCL champions of 1st Batch in 2017 for 12 days. These workshops were conducted at 16 universities and 1 higher education institute. This time around 400 faculty staff were trained in OBE-SCL and blended learning. MoHE supported the OBE-SCL workshops as an official Maktoob from the Deputy Ministry of Admin and Finance was sent to all the universities instructing the universities’ leadership to support the workshops and provide refreshment & lunch for the participants and trainers of the OBE-SCL workshops. Most universities were supportive and supported the workshops in terms of management, supervision and provision of refreshment and lunch. However, these supports varied from university to university. For instance, some universities only provided lunch with no refreshment. On the other hand, some universities fully supported the workshops and provided both refreshment and lunch as well as closely monitored the workshop. In some cases, the universities’ leadership did not support the OBE-SCL workshops at all. This will be reflected in the challenges and recommendations of this report. The Local OBE-SCL Workshop Objectives: The main goal of the local OBE-SCL Workshop is to train the faculty staff in OBE-SCL and to disseminate the knowledge of OBE-SCL concepts to faculty staff at the public universities and help them transform their belief on teaching & learning towards that of OBE-SCL and practice and implement it in the courses. The specific goals of OBE-SCL Trainings are summarized as four modules below: Module 1: The goal of this training module/course is to equip and train university lecturers and full time faculty members with an in-depth insight to Outcome Based Education, its practicality, concepts and build

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on their skills and knowledge focusing on curriculum design, defining programing learning outcomes and course learning outcomes. Module 2: The goal of this course is to train university lecturers and full time faculty members the basic concepts of assessment, how to assess students, link assessment with learning and learning outcomes. Faculty members, through practical activities and assignments, will develop a standard rubric for assessing their students and a sample summative exam of the courses they currently teach. The secondary goal of this training module is to enhance trainees’ skills and expertise towards adopting, utilizing, devising and modifying the assessment methods and tools in their courses and shape them into a more standard and systematic ones. Module 3: The goal of this training module/course is to train university lecturers and full time faculty members in student centered learning, teaching methodologies and how to achieve the program and course learning outcomes through effective teaching and learning, and how to design Learning activities aligned with the course outcomes. To enable faculty members to utilize different teaching strategies, know about learning styles of their students, engage students in active learning, apply cooperative learning and develop a standard daily lesson plan. Module 4: The primary goal of this training module/course is to train university full time faculty members with the concepts of cooperative learning and team formation and its dynamics on how to develop Team Based Learning considering its key elements, how to develop and design effective learning environment with cooperative learning and how to provide support to students’ team. The Major OBE-SCL Training Courses Learning Outcomes: Module 1: 1. Develop course learning outcomes and standard course syllabus with a schedule of the topics 2. Clearly explain the definition and purpose of OBE and the concept of constructive alignment in enhancing the effectiveness of Higher Education system and the quality of graduates. 3. Effectively involve in curriculum development, reform and reshape process 4. Write the learning outcomes correctly to the intended students ability and level of taxonomy 5. Identify and adapt the appropriate Teaching & Learning methods to ensure the development and achievement of the intended learning outcomes 6. Plan and use appropriate assessment methods that enable the learning outcomes to be measured and analyzed precisely. 7. Contribute to CQI process in the effort of improving learning process and achievement of the learning outcomes of the students. 8. Acquire adequate information about how they will be evaluated on practice of OBE-SCL

Module 2: 9. Acquire necessary knowledge about basic concepts of assessment in alignment with OBE-SCL approaches 10. Explain the principles and the various terminologies related to assessment and evaluation 11. Describe and apply several assessment methods, tools or strategies at Program or Course Level 12. Plan an effective Program and Course Assessment practice in Outcome-based Education (OBE) system 13. Learning about course management system and use CMS for basic classroom activities

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Module 3: 14. Explain the needs to shift to student-centered learning methods in classrooms 15. Explain active learning techniques that can be used in classrooms 16. Describe the How People Learn (HPL) framework to design and identify effective learning environments 17. Plan an aligned, engaging learning environment to support students learning using Active Learning

18. Acquire adequate knowledge about basic concepts of student centered learning and learning styles 19. Acquire knowledge about modern teaching methodologies Module 4: 20. Explain the 5 principles of cooperative learning and how to achieve them 21. Form and support development of learning teams in classrooms 22. Explain a formal cooperative learning structure for supporting students to learn in teams 23. Design and plan learning environments that develop team working skills among students 24. Explain and practice the Team-Based Learning principles and key elements 25. Adopt the appropriate techniques for the assessment of the Cooperative Learning Activities Workshop Schedule Course Title: Outcome Based Education: An Overview Course Code: OBE-SCL 101

Prerequisites: Participants will have to: • Be English proficient equivalent to B1 (Intermediate English-CEFR Framework) • Be computer literate • Full time faculty teacher • Have basic understanding and/or at least practiced about OBE-SCL in their classrooms Training Course The goal of this training module/course is to: Goal: . equip and train university lecturers and full time faculty members with an in-depth insight to Outcome Based Education, its practicality, concepts . build on their skills and knowledge focusing on curriculum design, defining programing learning outcomes and course learning outcomes

Instruction Date Main Topics Resource Sequence: Day 1 1.Introduction to OBE Outcome Based Education (OBE): An Note: The Training 2. Differences between OBE and Overview Course workbooks and Traditional methods of teaching materials will be 3. Developing Outcomes supplemented by Day 2 4. Learning Outcomes Outcome Based Education (OBE): An additional Master 5. Course Learning Outcomes Overview Trainers/Champions’ 6. Learning Taxonomy and Generic developed activities and Skills materials to scaffold acquisition and Day 3 7. Cognitive, Affective, and Outcome Based Education (OBE): An implement Teaching & Psychomotor Domain Overview Learning Outcomes. 8. Teaching & Learning-Alignment to Learning Outcomes 9. Assessment 10. Quality Management System

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Course Title: Outcome Based Education: Assessment Course Code: OBE-SCL 102

Prerequisites: Participants will have to: • Complete the OBE-SCL 101 Training Course • Be English proficient equivalent to B1 (Intermediate English-CEFR Framework) • Be computer literate • Full time faculty teacher • Have basic understanding and/or at least practiced about OBE-SCL in their classrooms Training Course The goal of this training module/course is to: Goal: . The primary goal of this course is to train university lecturers and full time faculty members the basic concepts of assessment, how to assess students, link assessment with learning and learning outcomes. Faculty members, through practical activities and assignments, will develop a standard rubric for assessing their students and a sample summative exam of the courses they currently teach. . The secondary goal of this training module is to enhance trainees’ skills and expertise towards adopting, utilizing, devising and modifying the assessment methods and tools in their courses and shape them into a more standard and systematic manner.

Instruction Date Main Topics Resource Sequence: Day 1 1.Introduction Outcome Based Education (OBE): Note: The Training 2. Define Assessment and related Assessment Course textbooks and terminologies materials will be 3. Assessment methods and tools supplemented by Day 2 4. PEO Outcome Based Education (OBE): additional Master 5. Course Outcomes Assessment Trainers/Champions’ 6. Assessment cycle developed activities and Day 3 7. Strategies for assessing learning Outcome Based Education (OBE): materials to scaffold outcomes Assessment acquisition and 8. Selecting assessment methods implement Teaching & Learning Outcomes.

Course Title: Effective Implementation of Student Centered Learning, Part 1: Engaging Learners through Active Learning Course Code: OBE-SCL 103

Prerequisites: Participants will have to: • Be English proficient equivalent to B1 (Intermediate English-CEFR Framework) • Be computer literate • Full time faculty teacher • Have basic understanding and/or at least practiced about OBE-SCL in their classrooms Training Course The goal of this training module/course is to: Goal:

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. The main aim of this training course is to train university full time faculty members in student centered learning, teaching methodologies and how to achieve the program and course learning outcomes through effective teaching and learning . To enable faculty members to utilize different teaching strategies, know about learning styles of their students, engage students in active learning, apply cooperative learning and develop a standard daily lesson plan.

Instruction Date Main Topics Resource Sequence: Day 1 1.Introduction to Student Centered Effective Implementation of Student Centered Note: The Training Learning Learning, Part 1: Engaging Learners Through Course textbooks and 2. Cooperative Learning Structures Active Learning materials will be Day 2 3. Informal Cooperative Learning Effective Implementation of Student Centered supplemented by 4. Supporting Student Learning Learning, Part 1: Engaging Learners Through additional Master through scaffolding Active Learning Trainers/Champions’ Day 3 5. How people learn framework Effective Implementation of Student Centered developed activities and 6. Design of Effective Learning Learning, Part 1: Engaging Learners Through materials to scaffold Environment Active Learning acquisition and 7. Planning an Aligned Learning implement Teaching & Environment using Active Learning Learning Outcomes.

Course Title: Effective Implementation of Student Centered Learning, Part 2: Developing & Supporting Team Based Learning Using Cooperative Learning Course Code: OBE-SCL 104

Prerequisites: Participants will have to: • Be English proficient equivalent to B1 (Intermediate English-CEFR Framework) • Be computer literate • Full time faculty teacher • Have basic understanding and/or at least practiced about OBE-SCL in their classrooms Training Course The goal of this training module/course is to: Goal: . The primary goal of this training module/course is to train university full time faculty members in student centered learning, teaching methodologies and how to achieve the program and course learning outcomes through effective teaching and learning, how to design Learning activities aligned with the course outcomes . How to develop Team Based Learning considering its key elements, how to develop and design effective learning environment with cooperative learning and how to provide support to Learning Groups Instruction Date Main Topics Resource Sequence: Day 1 1. Introduction to Course Design and Effective Implementation of Student Centered Note: The Training Delivery to address OBE Learning, Part 2: Developing & Supporting Team Course textbooks and 2. Principles for Developing Team Based Learning Using Cooperative Learning materials will be Based Learning Course supplemented by 3. Team Formation and Dynamics additional Master Day 2 4. Team Based Learning principles Effective Implementation of Student Centered Trainers/Champions’ and elements Learning, Part 2: Developing & Supporting Team developed activities and 5. Formal Cooperative Learning Based Learning Using Cooperative Learning materials to scaffold 6. The 3 pillars of CL and its formal Course structures

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Location: The OBE-SCL workshops were conducted at each of the public universities. The workshops were mainly held in the training rooms, computer labs, large classrooms or library. Participants: The total number of faculty staff trained during January, February and March 2018 is 401. These 401 trained faculty staff come from 16 Universities and 1 Higher Education Institute. No University No of trained Faculty Staff 1 Albernoni 10 2 Badakhshan 15 3 Baghlan 13 4 Bamyan 33 5 Faryab 15 6 Ghazni Technical & Engineering 13 7 Ghazni 24 8 Herat 32 9 Kabul 48 10 Kabul Education 18 11 Kunar 17 12 Paktia 25 13 Parwan 27 14 Shaikh Zayed 32 15 Takhar 18 16 Kabul Polytechnic 24 17 Helmand HEI 38 Total Trained 402 Training materials: HEDP provided a package of stationary along with 4 OBE-SCL Workbooks to the participants of OBE- SCL workshops. Each participant received a package which included the items as follow: a. Four OBE-SCL Workbooks b. Notebook c. Pen d. Pencil e. Highlighter f. Brochure

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g. Paper folder The OBE-SCL Champions also received a package of stationary with some more items which included the following: a. Notebook b. Pen c. Marker d. Stapler and staples e. Flip charts f. Highlighter g. Marker h. Duster i. Tape j. Sticky notes Training Modality: The training modality highly depends on the OBE-SCL champions’ insight and preference. In fact, they tried to practically show the concepts OBE-SCL to the participants via active learning approach, group and team work activities. Champions try to duplicate the same Advanced ToT OBE-SCL workshop they received at UTM within their workshop in Afghanistan and make some creative and innovative activities that is suitable for the contest of higher education in Afghanistan. Challenges: OBE-SCL is considered as a transformational move in the culture and view of teaching & learning and in a broader term a change in the way we used to see higher education in the past and the needs of 21st century students. Thus, it is necessary that we synchronize and expedite our pace to catch up with the world’s fast growing pace. This requires a careful planning on how to enhance and strengthen the quality of higher education. Therefore, Outcome Based Education and Student Centered Learning as well as Blended Learning (OBE-SCL, BL) has been introduced in the Higher Education system of Afghanistan. It is undeniable that every change confronts resistance at any level by anyone at any position. It is also clear that OBE-SCL and Blended Learning might face its own challenges in the context of Afghanistan as the concepts of OBE-SCL is pretty new to most Afghan faculty staff. In terms of conducting training programs and workshops, it is experienced that some will end very successfully and some might end with major or minor failures. Even the OBE-SCL Workshop is not an exception and there are pitfalls and challenges that hinder the process modernizing and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in the higher education. The following is the list of challenges observed by HEDP, OBE-SCL Champions, and University Operations Coordinator.

• Some of the faculty staff lacked English proficiency and they requested for instance interpretation • Poor commitment of the faculty staff as the participants and as they weren’t much attentive throughout the workshop and they would leave the workshop making lame excuses • Some of the participants were not punctual to the workshop • The universities were instructed to provide lunch and refreshment to the OBE-SCL workshop. However, some of the universities weren’t much supportive in this regard. • Some OBE-SCL trainers/champions didn’t submit the supporting documents properly and final report on time.

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• Some universities’ leadership did not fully support the champions and the OBE-SCL workshops and as a result the faculty deans, department heads and academic staff would not take the workshop serious. Some of the challenges reflected in the Final Reports of the OBE-SCL workshop drafted by the Champions are as follow: a. Lack of motivation factors to participants by faculty deans and university leadership b. Low level of English proficiency of the participants caused serious problems in working with the books and its activities c. During the training there was loose reinforcement/cooperation by the university authority d. The venue of workshop was not suitable e. University didn’t provide lunch & refreshment on the first days of workshop. But, towards the end of the workshop, university supported us f. Security was one of most important issue during this workshop () g. The quality of the food was not good at all and sometimes it was provided very late in the afternoon h. Electricity i. Resistance against OBE-SCL by old faculty staff j. Lack of facilities for the trainees k. Lack of computer literacy and Computer labs with Internet

Recommendations: HEDP closely monitors the OBE-SCL workshops conducted by OBE-SCL champions at public universities. There are some recommendations based on the observation of workshops, champions’ comments and coordinators’ input. The recommendations are outlined as below: • MoHE shall reinforce on universities’ leadership to fully support and supervise the OBE-SCL workshops • MoHE and universities’ leadership, faculties and departments shall develop a strategy or mechanism to monitor the trained faculty staff and to make sure they practice the OBE- SCL in their classrooms • Universities’ leadership shall ensure that each registered faculty staff in the OBE-SCL workshop do not skip any sessions of the OBE-SCL workshop for any reason • There should be a competition between faculties and departments in a university and in a broader sense between universities in terms of OBE-SCL content delivery and its implementation • An OBE-SCL association/committee/department shall be made at each university and also at the MoHE Expectations from universities Ministry of Higher Education and Higher Education Development Program expect the chancellors, vice chancellors, faculty deans and department heads to fully support the OBE-SCL implementation, promotion and practice at all levels and stages. Further support is especially expected from the faculty staff who participated in the 12-day OBE-SCL workshop at the universities. MoHE expect those trained faculties to spread their knowledge with others at their department and faculty level. They are expected to practice and

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implement OBE-SCL in their courses so that the students as the end product (graduates) properly get equipped with the knowledge and skills that are demanded in the tough job market of 21st century. Conclusion MoHE with the help of HEDP is determined to continue the conduct of more of such workshops to new faculty staff of the universities. This shift from traditional way of teaching and learning to the modern way of teaching and learning will happen within years. Hence, the close collaboration, coordination and support of universities leadership and faculty staff with MoHE is highly recommended in the process of transforming the Higher Education System of Afghanistan to OBE-SCL system.

Annex: Some photos of OBE-SCL workshops at public universities

Figure 1: Alberoni University

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Figure 2: Badakhshan University, Last Day of OBE-SCL Workshop

Figure 3: Badakhshan University

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Figure 4:

Figure 5:

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Figure 6: Faryab University

Figure 7: Ghazni Technical & Engineering University

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Figure 8:

Figure 9:

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Figure 10: Kabul University

Figure 11: Kabul University

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Figure 12: Kabul Education University

Figure 13: Kabul Polytechnic University

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Figure 14: Kunar University

Figure 15: Helmand Higher Education Institute

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Figure 16:

Figure 17:

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Figure 18: Shaikh Zayed Univeristy

Figure 19: PEACE BE WITH AFGHANISTAN!

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