Integration of Islamic perspectives into medical imaging curriculum: an outcome based education approach
This paper presents a conceptual approach in appreciating the integration of Islamic perspectives into a Medical imaging Curriculum to the concept of Outcome Based Education (OBE) This work is seen within the context of harmonising Islamic principles to a currently accepted concept in education. Although there have been discussions that question the concept of OBE, this paper contends that the integration can benefit the practicality aspect of OBE. This can reduce the complexities and fatique in addressing the integration using an educational approach that is different to that being applied to the human sciences. This paper features the main elements in OBE in the form of Islamic programme educational objectives, Islamic programme outcomes and Islamic learning outcomes. The teaching and learning strategies as well as the assessment are examined through a lens that serves to provide a desirable, practical and holistic model of Islamic integration. It is felt that the currently accepted teaching methodologies can be adapted for the integration exercise. This work also highlights two often overlooked elements of OBE; teacher and student characteristics. The various terminologies that describe the Islamic teacher characteristics and the differences in student learning styles and preferences are presented. Taking the discussions further the paper recognises the roles of individuals' emotional and spiritual intelligences that have been reported to influence organisational and management environments, individuals' predicaments and professionalism. This work complements those works by exploring how these two types of intelligences can be tailored to facilitate for the receptiveness and adoption of the integration of Islamic perspectives. Furthermore, suggestions are made to align the assessment of the integration to various taxonomies of learning, with the aim in evaluating the internalisation of the Islamic essences. This works contents that a holistic approach towards integration of Islamic perspectives into any given curriculum can be realised