Extending the Learning Landscape:
Investigating A systemic Approach to School
Effectiveness in Oman
Dr.Mohamed E. Osman & Prof.Thuwayba A. Al Barwani
With
Dr.Abdo M. Al Mekhlafi
Dr. Khalid Al Saadi
Ms.Laila Alhashar
Ms.Fathiya Al Maawali
Ms.Zuhor Al lawati
Acknowledgment
This three year project is funded fully by His Majesty Trust Fund
under grant number (SR/EDU/TEC/14/01). The research team
members would like to express their gratitude for the financial
support of such a valuable project. Thanks and appreciation are
also extended to SQU administration, in general, and the Deputy
vice-chancellor for post graduate studies and Research (DVCPRS)
and the Deanship of research, in particular, for their
administrative support and efficient facilitation of the project
implementation.
Outline
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Context of the problem
School effectiveness models
Long term & Short term goals
Methodology
Project major milestones and timeline
Achievement of the Project
Challenges & opportunities
School Effectiveness
Innovation Sustainability Wheel (ISW)
Al Barwani, T. A., and Osman, M. E. (2011).
Research
Vision
Empowerment
Communication
networks
Ownership
Leadership
Coordination
Accountability
Resource
mobilization
Institutionalization
Participation
Reward system
Professional
Development
Start & Stop
Innovation Sustainability Wheel (ISW)
Al Barwani, T. A., and Osman, M. E. (2011).
Research
Vision
Empowerment
Communication
networks
Ownership
Leadership
Coordination
Accountability
Resource
mobilization
Institutionalization
Participation
Reward system
Professional
Development
Start & Stop
Purpose of the Project:
This project aims to systemically activate and analyze
the impact of all interrelated elements in the school
system that promote the empowerment of student
learning in the Sultanate of Oman. More specifically, it
aims at furnishing the school system with a practical
model for sustained improvement of the overall school
performance.
Long Term Goals:
 Extending the learning landscape through interactive learning
environments for the purpose of achieving maximum
empowerment of learners’ potential.
 Maintaining the sustainability of educational innovations
through informed mechanisms for closing the feedback loop
among all interrelated subsystems.
 Developing informed policies that are directly linked to return
on investment.
 Providing policy makers and practitioners with a researchbased model for a long term future school improvement.
Short Term Goals:
 Providing empirical evidence for theoretically-sound
interventions that can maximize students’ learning potential.
 Examining school leadership practices in improving the overall
school efficiency.
 Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the interrelated
elements of the system at the school level.
 Establishing a continuous evaluation and cyclical feedback
system that is directly linked to measurable learning outcomes.
 Improving students’ attainment in five subject areas :
Science , Math, English and Arabic Language literacy, & IT.
 Improving students’ attainment in critical thinking skills.
Significance of The Project:
 Providing the educational system in Oman with a workable
mechanism for identifying key areas of weaknesses and means of
improvement.
 Establishing a chain of actions for activating all interrelated elements
that act as driving forces for sustainable change.
 Creating a culture of collaboration, commitment and ownership of
school improvement in the part of all concerned (stakeholders) in the
educational system.
Significance of the Project (cont.):
 Ensuring that the indicators of school improvement should include
inputs, operational processes, and students’ learning outcomes.
 Informing pre-service teacher education programs to prepare future
teachers as change agents.
 Contributing to the knowledge base in the area of school improvement
with a research-based model that has potential implications for
practitioners and policy makers.
Methodology:
• Population and sample
• Research Design
• Procedures
Research Instruments
Assessment measures
data sources
Ministry of Education exams (students’ literacy
(Arabic and English), Math, Science and IT)
Critical Thinking, and Reading Literacy Tests
(Arabic and English)
Satisfaction survey (for teachers and parents)
Teacher Collaboration Assessment Survey
School
self-evaluation
reports
and
Assessment Questionnaire.
Supervisors’ reports
Students’ attitudes towards schooling.
Classroom Observation check lists
Analysis of students’ work
ISW
•
Students
•
Teachers
•
Administrators
•
Supervisors
•
Parents
•
School records (teachers and students
demographics and attendance)
•
Curriculum documents
Project Major Milestones and Timeline
Task
Review related literature.
Identify and assign sample groups.
Collect schools’ baseline data.
Develop Research Instruments.
Pilot Research Instruments
Analyze pilot data.
Conduct training needs assessment.
Phase 1 Conduct training workshops.
Administer pre- tests, and questionnaires.
Develop Interventions
Report
Implement interventions
Collect school performance data.
Administer students’ performance tests.
Phase 2
Re administer psychometric tests, and
questionnaires.
Conduct interviews.
Analyze data.
Report.
Examine all elements of the school
development model.
Phase 3 Analyze data
Develop policy documents
Final Report
Year 2
Year 1
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Year 3
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Project Major Milestones and Timeline
Task
Review related literature.
Identify and assign sample groups.
Collect schools’ baseline data.
Develop Research Instruments.
Phase 1
Pilot Research Instruments
Analyze pilot data.
Conduct training needs assessment.
Conduct training workshops.
Administer pre- tests, and questionnaires.
Develop Interventions
Report
Year 1
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Project Major Milestones and Timeline
Task
Review related literature.
Identify and assign sample groups.
Collect schools’ baseline data.
Develop Research Instruments.
Phase 1
Pilot Research Instruments
Analyze pilot data.
Conduct training needs assessment.
Conduct training workshops.
Administer pre- tests, and questionnaires.
Develop Interventions
Report
Year 1
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Achievement of the Project
Research Printed Materials
Schools Visit
The Website
Schools Portfolio
The Forum
Procurements
Main Meetings
Surveys
The Project Orientation Workshop
Project
Administration
Process
Phase 1 Achievement
Research Assistants
Challenges & Opportunities
 Approval from MOE
 Coordination with Schools
 Budget
Introduction For Phase 2
 Workshop Plans
Thank You
Dr.Mohamed E. Osman & Prof.Thuwayba A. Al Barwani
With
Dr.Abdo M. Al Mekhlafi
Dr. Khalid Al Saadi
Ms.Laila Alhashar
Ms.Fathiya Al Maawali
Ms.Zuhor Al lawati