Outcome-based education: origins, development and impact on the management of N.S.W. public schools

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the way in which Outcome-Based Education (O.B.E.) models and ideas were being used in the Ne1w South Wales (N.S.W), Australia Department of School Education (D.S.E.) public; school system before March, 1995. After this date, a change of government resulted in a changed context for public education in N.S W., with significant reorganization taking place. One research problem was the myriad of O.B.E. interpretations in the N.S.W. public school system at the state, regional, cluster of schools and individual school levels. Another problem to be addressed ,was the apparent inadequacy of the knowledge base for educators expected to effectively implement an "outcome" approach to curriculum. A review of the origins and development of O.B.E. in the United States of America (U.S.A.) was perceived as providing a more comprehensive understanding of the strategic implications for the use of O.B.E. in N.S.W. schools. Recognition of the role educational administrators have in establishing the corporate conditions for successful system and student outcomes can be seen as crucial. This research study provides a comprehensive and critical review of literature on the origins and early development of O.B.E. ideas. Interviews conducted with and a questionnaire distributed to some "key actors" involved in O.B.E. change processes in the N.S.W. D.S.E. were the means of gathering data. Emergent findings from the interviews and the questionnaire were then comparatively analysed to identify common themes and to inform the nature of the recommendations made for future use of a.B.E. ideas in N. S.W. public schools. The study found that a "quiet revolution" had occurred. Some N.S.W. educators had used a range of O.B.E. strategies derived directly from literature and consultants from the U.S.A. Innovation in some N.S.W. regions, clusters and schools had achieved a synthesis of O.B.E. ideas derived from various sources. O.B.E. innovations had occurred both within and outside the parameters set by the N.S.W. state-based system of education.