Educational Assessment Attitudes, Competence, Knowledge, and Practices: An Exploratory Study of Muscat Teachers in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Educational assessment can be a powerful tool in enhancing classroom instruction and student performance. Yet,its effectiveness relies on the beliefs and knowledge of those who apply it on a daily classroom basis. This studyexplored attitudes, competence, knowledge, and practices of teachers about educational assessment. Participantswere 165 in-service teachers teaching various subject areas in grades 5 to 10 randomly selected from Muscateducational governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. The study employed a descriptive survey research design.Results revealed that although teachers held a favorable attitude towards and perceived themselves as beingcompetent in educational assessment, they demonstrated a low level of knowledge in educational assessment.Teachers used a variety of assessments in the classroom primarily for assigning grades and motivating studentsto learn, with some variations by gender, grade level, and subject area. Teaching load and teaching experienceaccounted for some of the variations in teachers’ educational assessment practices. Implications for professionaldevelopment of teachers in educational assessment as well as recommendations for future research werediscussed.