Smart Way of Learning Graph Theory with Outcome Based Educational Model: Transformational pedagogy for engineering graduates in Mathematical courses

Graph theory has remained one of the most challenging concepts of mathematics for engineering graduates. Most of the courses of engineering curriculum are application based, wherein mathematics does not show its direct application to the real world. The learners seek for the relationship of the theory and its application in solving the real time problems. The conventional methods of teaching graph theory do not fulfill the learners' requirements. There is a need to utilize the modern methods of pedagogies in such conditions. This paper discusses the implementation of the Outcome based education (OBE) approach for engineering graduates offered with graph theory as a mandatory course. The objective of using OBE was to make students use the knowledge of graph theory to address the real time problems of society. The students were divided into small groups and allowed to select a problem from daily life and by applying the concepts of graph theory; they were required to generate the solutions. A rubric based assessment was carried out for all groups to obtain the attainment level of the class. The prerequisites, objectives and the outcomes were discussed with the learners before the implementation. The learners were offered an anonymous feedback form to confirm the success of the pedagogy. A meta-analysis was carried out on the feedback as well as the assessment rubric was analyzed for the attainment level of the class. It was observed that by implementing the OBE approach, a total of five PO and two PSO of the engineering programs were became possible to achieve and an improved attainment level of the class was confirmed. The OBE approach for teaching graph theory to engineering graduates showed the potential of effectiveness of modern pedagogical practices for theory-based subjects.