One-day workshop on Smart Assessments with OBE Approach OBE Strategies Precise Exam Design and QnSmart Implementation for Quality Education – St. Joseph College, Devagiri

One-day workshop on Smart Assessments with OBE Approach OBE Strategies Precise Exam Design and QnSmart Implementation for Quality Education – St. Joseph College, Devagiri

The Examination Cell of St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Devagiri, Kozhikode, in collaboration with ipsr solutions limited, hosted a one-day workshop titled “Smart Assessments with OBE Approach: OBE Strategies, Precise Exam Design, and QnSmart i Implementation for Quality Education” on Tuesday, 4th March 2025. The event saw the active participation of over 120+ faculty members from the college, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing educational assessment methodologies.

Inaugural Session

The workshop commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. George Mathew, Controller of Examinations, setting the stage for a day of insightful learning. The official inauguration was led by Dr. Boby Jose, Principal, who emphasized the significance of integrating modern assessment tools in academia. Fr. Dr. Sunil Jose, Vice Principal, delivered a facilitation, highlighting the institution’s dedication to continuous improvement in educational practices. Throughout the event, unwavering support was provided by Dr. Joy Joseph, Academic Coordinator, and Ms. Silu Mereena, Assistant Academic Coordinator, ensuring seamless coordination and execution

Outcome-Focused Academic Session & Interactive Learning

Bridging Theory and Practice: Dr. Mendus Jacob Leads Outcome-Focused Workshop on OBE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Collaborative Learning.

Dr. Mendus Jacob, M.D. & CEO of ipsr solutions limited, spearheaded the academic session.  An esteemed alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, Dr. Jacob completed his M.Sc. Mathematics from this institution in 1985, making his return to conduct the workshop a momentous and nostalgic occasion.

The session with cutting-edge pedagogy, focused on bridging theoretical frameworks like Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Bloom’s Taxonomy with practical implementation strategies.

Key Themes Explored

Foundations of Outcome-Based Education (OBE)

Dr. Jacob demonstrated how to transition from passive, lecture-based teaching to active, outcome-driven learning using student-centric, interactive methods.

Toolkit for Success:

• Introduced frameworks for drafting SMART learning outcomes (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
• Shared case studies of institutions reducing graduate skill gaps through industry-collaborative OBE models.

Takeaway: Educators practiced aligning course objectives with societal needs, such as designing a coding module targeting employability in tech sectors.

Bloom’s Taxonomy in Action
Participants explored the hierarchical structure of cognitive learning domains (Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating). Dr. Jacob illustrated how aligning assessments with these levels fosters deeper comprehension and higher-order thinking.

Participants dissected the previous assessments against the cognitive ladder (Remembering → Creating) and applied it to redesign assessment instruments.

Activity: Classified exam questions using a Bloom’s Matrix Template to identify over-reliance on rote memorisation.

Mapping Outcomes to Assessments
A deep dive into designing rubrics and activities that directly reflect learning outcomes. The session underscored the necessity of coherence between curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation.

Workshop Drill: Faculty Members used a Curriculum Mapping Template to visually align course outcomes with activities and assessments.

Interactive Session Highlights

Case Study Analysis: Real-world scenarios were dissected to identify gaps in outcome-alignment and propose actionable solutions.

Q&A and Feedback Rounds: Dr. Jacob facilitated open discussions, addressing challenges in implementing OBE across diverse academic disciplines.

The first half of the workshop concluded with a consensus on the transformative potential of OBE and Bloom’s Taxonomy in shaping future-ready graduates. Participants praised the blend of theory, hands-on collaboration, and Dr. Jacob’s mentorship, leaving them equipped to redesign curricula with precision and purpose.

Hands-On Implementation

The afternoon segment transitioned into a practical, hands-on session held in the computer lab. Participants engaged with QnSmart i, an innovative tool designed to streamline assessment processes and enhance evaluation strategies. This interactive session allowed faculty members to delve into digital solutions aimed at elevating the quality of examinations and overall educational assessments.

Participants were able to prepare OBE-aligned question banks during this one-day hands-on workshop with the help of Qnsmart i. 

They were also able to experience the AI-assisted academic platform Questionpaper.ai

Support Team

The success of the workshop was bolstered by the dedicated support team from ipsr solutions limited, comprising: Mr. Shiju Cherian (Sr. Manager – HR & Administration), Mr. Sachin Nath V (Team Lead – Technical Services), Mr. Nithin PM (Assistant Manager – Business Development), Ms. Archana U (Team Lead – Digital Marketing).

Their collective efforts ensured a smooth and enriching experience for all participants, facilitating the seamless integration of QnSmart i into the workshop.

About St. Joseph College Devagiri

St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, has a longstanding tradition of academic excellence and institutional accolades:

• Establishment and Affiliation: Founded in 1956, the college is affiliated with the University of Calicut and has been a beacon of quality education for over six decades.
  devagiricollege.org
• NAAC Accreditations:
  • In 2004, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accredited the college with an ‘A’ grade, scoring 88.15%.
  • The college was re-accredited in 2010 with an ‘A’ grade, achieving a CGPA of 3.63 on a four-point scale.
  • In 2016, it became the first institution in the country to be re-accredited by NAAC with an A++ grade, attaining a CGPA of 3.76.
  • In 2024, during the fourth accreditation cycle, the college maintained its A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.65, reaffirming its commitment to quality education.
• NIRF Rankings: The college has consistently performed well in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), securing the 61st position in the college category in 2024.
• Academic Excellence: The institution has produced over 200 university examination toppers, reflecting its dedication to maintaining an ideal balance between curricular and co-curricular activities.

Participant Feedback

Dr. Sherin V George, Head of the Department of Psychology, shared his positive feedback on the workshop, emphasising the practical applications of the tools and strategies discussed. His insights highlighted the workshop’s impact on enhancing assessment quality within the institution.

Conclusion

The workshop marked a significant step towards integrating advanced assessment methodologies within St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri. The collaboration with ipsr solutions limited and the active engagement of the faculty underscore the institution’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and embracing innovative educational practices.

A heartfelt thank you to St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, for hosting this impactful event and to all the faculty members who contributed to making this workshop a resounding success!

For more insights and updates on similar workshops, visit IPSR AcademiX.

Archana U

Digital Marketing Head at ipsr solutions limited. Google Certified with 8+ years of extensive experience in different Digital Marketing channels i.e. SEO(search engine optimization), SEM(Search Engine Marketing), SMO(social media optimization) ORM(online reputation management), PPC(Google Adwords), Lead Generation, Adwords campaign management, Content creation, Blogging (Corporate and Personal), etc. Having a wide knowledge of employing basic and advanced SEO strategies. Responsible for planning and executing the best online strategy for all client projects. Having inscribed knowledge of Google Analytics,Google tag manager and Facebook pixels in Tracking and analysis of running live campaigns. Passionate about exploring new tools, apps, and digital marketing trends to stay on top of the game.