الملخص الإنجليزي
This study aims to identify the role of the social media networks in developing students' knowledge about the Omani society's issues included in the Social Studies curriculum in Post Basic Education stage according to its teachers' point of view. To achieve the study objectives, the mixed design method (Quantitative and Qualitative) was used in collecting the data through the questionnaire and the interview.
A questionnaire had been prepared. It consisted of (52) items including two basic areas. The first one searched about the role of the social media networks in developing students knowledge about the Omani society's issues. It involved five fields of the issue taught in the social studies curriculum of grades 11 and 12. These fields are: The Omani Identity, the Omani Environmental issue, the Omani Teenagers Issues, Shaping future and the Social Participation The second area searched about the social media networks that play a major role in developing students' knowledge about the Omani society's issues Included in the Social Studies curriculum in Post Basic Education Stage. Besides, an interview was conducted. It consisted of three questions which were asked for some of the study sample (30) who responded to the questionnaire.
In order to verify the validity of the study tools, the researcher showed them for a group of (14) experts. Moreover, the stability of the questionnaire was verified by applying it on a sample consisted of (40) male and female teachers from Post-Basic schools. The Alpha Cronbach showed (0.942). The interview was verified by applying it on 4 teachers outside the study sample)
The questionnaire was applied on random sample consisted of (210) male and female teachers representing four Omani govemorates (Muscut, AlDakhlia, Bantina North and AlSharqia South). The interview was conducted on intentional sample consisted of (30) male and female teachers from the four previous governorates.
The study results showed the following:
1- The Social Studies' teachers in Post Basic Education found that social media networks play a positive role developing students' knowledge about Omani society's issues included in the Social Studies curriculum. The five fields of the first area of the questionnaire attained high estimates from the study samples. The arithmetic mean of the five fields was (4.00) with standard deviation (1.10). In addition, the interview result showed the same opinions. (90%) of the interviewees emphasized that social media networks play a major role in developing students' knowledge about the Omani society's issues.
2- According to the Social Studies' teachers in Post Basic Education, the first social media network that develop the students' knowledge about the Omani society's issues included in the Social Studies curriculum were Twitter followed by WhatsApp, then Instagram.
3- There are statistically significant differences at the level (a = 0.05) due to variable of the years of experience in favor of the experienced between (510). Also, in the Social Participation field between AlBatinah North AlDakhlia and AlSharqia South in favor of AlBatinah North. However, the results showed no statistically differences in the gender.
The study recommended investing the different social media networks that help in developing students' knowledge about the Omani society's issues. Besides, it emphasized the importance of using the social networks in teaching the different issues included in the curriculum Based on the results, the study proposed a number of suggestions. Key words: Social media networks, Omani society's issues and Social Studies' teachers.
