English abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers in selected cycle one basic education schools of Oman concerning the actual status quo of peer supervision in those schools, determine whether or not there were statistically significant differences among respondents that can be attributed to qualification, experience, specialization and educational region, and lastly suggest a proposal to promote peer supervision in those schools.
Towards that end, the relevant literature was analyzed and a 55-item questionnaire was developed drawing on relevant literature, previous research studies and the pilot study. The researcher ensured the validity and the reliability of the questionnaire before distributing it to a sample consisting of 509 teachers from: Muscat, Batinah South, Batinah North and Al Dakhiliyah (The Interior). It was divided into four dimensions: peer supervision forms, its organizing procedures, effects and obstacles. The researcher then had interviews with 40 teachers from the same sample in order to find out more information about the four dimensions.
The data was statistically treated using means, standard deviations, ranks, T-test and One-Way ANOVA. The main findings of the study were:
"Inter-visitations between teachers of the same specialization" and " Discussing professional issues in informal settings" were the forms that were mostly applied in those schools . On the other hand, the form that was rarely applied in schools was: "Inter-visitations between teachers of different specializations".
There was a gap between the ideal and the actual situation in those schools concerning the procedures of organizing peer supervision programs. The participants believed that peer supervision has positive effects on the cognitive aspect and the skills of the teacher. There were some obstacles that peer supervision faces in those schools such as: the insufficient time and the teaching burdens. Statistically significant differences were observed among participants on some items of the four dimensions due to qualification, experience, specialization and the educational region.
Drawing on the literature review, the field study results and opinions of 11 experts, the researcher articulated a suggested proposal called, "Conceptualized proposal to apply peer supervision in cycle one basic education schools" which consists of : the proposal points of departure, its aims, forms, requirements, organizing procedures, outcomes, expected obstacles and their solutions and evaluation mechanisms.
