The level of application of reflective practice in early childhood programs in Saudi universities

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the level of the faculty member's application of action research, diaries, and peer observation in early childhood programs in Saudi universities. Also, it aimed to reveal the existence of differences in the sample according to the variables: (university, academic rank, training courses). The study applied the descriptive survey approach. It used the questionnaire as a tool for the study. The sample consisted of 102 academic members in four Saudi universities (King Abdulaziz University, King Saud University, Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University). The study revealed that the level of faculty member's application of diaries in early childhood programs came with the (strongly agree) degree and the level of applying action research and peer observation came with the (agree) degree. The study also found that there are differences between sample responses towards the level of applying reflective practice in early childhood programs according to the university and training courses variables. There are no differences according to the scientific rank variable. Accordingly, the study recommended several recommendations, including: the importance of teaching the student teacher action research course which leads her to apply steps of action research and acquire scientific research skills