National Learning Outcome Standards: A Case ‎of the Computing Element in Oman

Abstract

The General Foundation Program (GFP) is a pre-requisite program ‎for nearly all undergraduate students in Oman in both private and ‎government higher education institutions. The GFP elements include ‎English Language, Computing, Mathematics, and General Study ‎Skills. The present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the ‎GFP with special reference to its Computing element. To do so, 106 ‎‎(72 females and 34 males) post-GFP students’ perceptions of their ‎competencies in the Computing element were evaluated. Data were ‎collected through a 5-point Likert Scale author-designed ‎questionnaire created based on the Learning Outcomes (LOs) of the ‎component. The chi-square results revealed statistically significant ‎differences among the frequencies of the students’ responses in ‎rating their competencies in Computing LOs. Based on the findings, ‎the participants were mostly competent in all the 6 main LOs of the ‎Computing element. In addition, a few criteria with positive effects ‎on achieving the LOs of educational programs were discussed.