The Supervisory Methods Used by the Academic Supervisors (Teaching Staff) at Al - Quds Open University in the Light of the characteristics of Learner - Centered Education

Abstract

The study intended to examine the supervisory methods used by the

academic supervisors (teaching staff) in the educational regions and centers

of Al - Quds Open University in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the light of

the characteristics of learner - centered education in the first semester of the

academic year 2008/2009.

The study used a questionnaire built by the two researchers which

consisted of (44) items and was classified into four categories as follows:

the facilitating and guiding supervisory methods (FGSM)، the motivational

supervisory methods (MSM)، the learner - participatory supervisory methods

(LPSM)، and the genuine learning supervisory methods (GLSM). The number

of full - time academic supervisors who participated in the study was (243).

The results of the study showed that the supervisory methods used by

the full - time academic supervisors at Al - Quds Open University were highly

learner - centered with a general average (4.27) out of (5) points that equaled

(85.4%). The results of all the four categories of the questionnaire were high

with averages rating (4.23) for FGSM that equaled (84.6%)، (4.34) for MSM

that equaled (86.6%)، (4.25) for LPSM that equaled (85%)، and (4.29) for the

GLSM that equaled (85.8%). The results also showed there were no significant

differences in the supervisory methods of the academic supervisors due to

sex، academic ranking، and educational experience variables. But the study

showed significant differences in the genuine learning methods category in

favor of the Master’s degree holders among academic supervisors. On the

other hand، the results did not show any significant differences in the total

average or the other three categories. The results also showed significant

differences in the facilitating and guiding supervisory methods category

in favor of the Administrative and Economic Sciences Program ، while the

other three categories and the total average did not show any significant

differences