الملخص الإنجليزي
The current case study critically analyzed the reflective practices of
purposefully selected student teachers majoring in teaching Science at College of
Education (CoE) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), faculty members from SQU who
teach these student teachers, and field training supervisors from both Ministry of
Higher Education, Research and Innovation and Ministry of Education; Considering
the two standards documents (InTASC, 2013) and (NSTA, 2020). The current study
applied a critical qualitative approach, which adopted a “case study” design. To answer
the questions of the current study, data was collected through analyzing two standards
documents (InTASC) and (NSTA) and conducting in-depth individual interviews and
focus group interviews. To analyze the data, the current study combined critical
content analysis and critical thematic analysis based on qualitative analysis as a basis
for this analysis. This study finding revealed that the data implicitly addressed different
dimensions of reflection, for instance: the concept of reflection its importance,
reflection as a practice, employing reflection in teaching as a concept and practice,
assessing reflective practices, and the challenges of employing reflective practices.
The current study concluded with several recommendations regarding teaching,
assessing, and researching in relation to reflection at CoE at SQU, some of which are
related to the context and design of the science teacher preparation program, and others
related to the timing of implementing reflective practices, while other
recommendations were related to evaluating reflective practices and spreading
awareness of these reflective practices. The current study also concluded with a several
suggestions for future research. Examples include: conducting a longitudinal study to
track the development of the level of reflective practices among student teachers.
Moreover, the study suggested conducting a comparative study on reflective practices
in science teacher preparation programs between colleges of education in various
higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman and other international
universities in order to exchange experience.
