Does Managing Courses Using Course Learning Outcomes Improve Education Quality? A GCC Study

Abstract

Quality education is the main goal for all universities that strive to succeed and compete in the market. To ensure quality, universities must be able to provide its students and staff with services and tools to help them excel in their (educational) career. Measuring quality of education is not an easy process. Different universities use different techniques to help them determine whether or not their students are getting the proper education. One of the most common ways used in the west is the use of Objectives. Departments place course and program objectives that it works on to ensure that the student is familiar with so that the student can compete in the market after graduating. Universities in the Gulf are no different. Their focus on program learning objectives stems from the ministry of education through all levels of management. This paper sheds light on the process used to ensure quality of education at Al Ain University in United Arab Emirates by providing course material focused purely on Course and Program Learning Outcomes. This paper tries to answer the following questions:

• Does focusing on Course Learning Outcomes help students better manage their course material?

• Does focusing on Course Learning Outcomes improve course quality?

• Does focusing on Course Learning Outcomes help boost student trust in course materials?

• Do using online tools create a better learning environment?

Keywords: Program Learning Outcome, Course learning outcome, Quality management