An Evaluation of National Education Textbook for Primary Grades (4-6th) according to the teachers’ opinion

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Type: 
Thesis
Year: 
1999
Students: 
Mohammed Rabay'a
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An Evaluation of National Education Textbook for Primary Grades (4-6th) according to the teachers’ opinion2.57 MB
Abstract: 

This study aimed at evaluating the primary grades’ national education textbooks (4th-6th) from perspective of teachers. The research questions addressed were as follows: 1- What was the degree of evaluation of national education textbooks by school teachers in the northern governorates of Palestine? 2- Was there a difference in estimates of evaluation of each ofthe five domains according to: sex, academic qualification, experience, type of class and the teaching of the subject for the first time? To answer the research questions, the researcher developed a unified questionnaire for the three textbooks. The questionnaire, in its final version, consisted of 56 items distributed among five domains textbook goals:l3 items; educational aids and activities:l7 items; evaluation:7 items. The population of the study comprised teachers of both sexes involved in the teaching of national education to the three grades in the northern governorates of the West Bank: Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Salfit. The total number of the population amounted to 754 teachers of both sexes. The questionnaire was administered on a randomly chosen sample representing 40% of the study population. the number of respondents was 302 teachers during 1998/ 1999 scholastic year. By using arithmetic averages of the degree of evaluation ofthe five domains of the study, the layout of the three textbooks combined occupied the first place. It received a very good evaluation. The arithmetic average was 4.01. The domain of objectives received second place and it had a high evaluation; its arithmetic average was 3,58. The content domain was third in order and its evaluation was also high; its arithmetic average was 3.50. The area of means of evaluation came in the fourth place and its evaluation was on average. Its arithmetic average was 3.37. The educational aids and activities came last and its degree of evaluation was average. The arithmetic average was 3.01. The degree of evaluation of the five domains for the three grades combined was on average. The arithmetic average was 3.49. Pertaining to the teachers’ perspective of the national education curriculum, in terms of its degree of flexibility, it differed depending on sex, qualification, class! grade variable, and variable of the teaching discipline. The T- test has revealed that the males’ evaluations were higher than females in the domain of study. There were differences in the degree of evaluation between veteran and new teachers in favor of the new teachers in the areas of content and educational aids. However, there were no differences in the remaining areas. ANOVA test also revealed that there were differences in the evaluation of flexibility which may be attributed to the qualification in favor of diploma holders. However, no differences were found which may be attributed to grade variable on the domains of the study save the layout domain in favor of the fourth grade. As for teaching experience, the ANOVA test showed differences in the domains of content and educational aids in favor of those having less than five years of experience and those who had more than ten years of experience. But there were no difference among the remaining domains. In the light of the study findings, the researcher came up with the following recommendation. There is a need for more interest and more attractive and effective educational aids so that students can get involved in the material. The content has to be enriched with contemporary social, political, and economic problems in the Palestinian society. Finally, there is a need for further analytical and evaluative studies from different perspectives.