Evaluating the Performance of Teaching Staff Members in the Department of History, College of Basic Education in the Light of Historical Thinking

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the performance of teaching staff members in the department of history, college of basic education in the light of historical Thinking. The study sample consisted of 20 male and female teaching staff members from the College of Basic Education, Department of History in the academic year 2014-2015. The study instrument that aided the researcher was the questionnaire because it is an important device to introduce the responders to organized and carefully chosen stimulations. Accordingly, the researcher prepared a list of the needed skills consisted of 27 items distributed to five aspects. The results were analyzed ysing the appropriate statistical devices (Chi Square, Cronbach Formula Alpha, Weighted Mean Equation).The most important results that the researcher reached at are: The first aspect (time sequence) includes six items that were all applicable by teaching staff by the skills of historical thinking from the study sample's perspective. The second aspect (historical understanding and comprehension) includes six items that were all applicable by teaching staff by the skills of historical thinking from the study sample's perspective.The study recommended that approval of the historical thinking skills that were identified in the study to be utilized in the evaluation of teaching staff members in the department of history. Teaching staff members need to pay attention to continuous development and enhancement of teaching performance to ensure quality and distinction. The researcher concluded the adequacy of teaching staff members in using historical thinking skills as well as the weakness of some members in using teaching strategies that develop historical thinking skills like brainstorming, problem-based teaching, cooperative learning, and active learning etc.

Keywords

thinking skills