Current professional development is based on modern theories of learning which focus on the role of adult learners as partners in the learning process while trainers are as facilitators. Trainees can take part in managing their learning through many techniques (Knowles ,1984), like participating in identifying the goals of the course, assessing their needs, knowledge or skills. Self-assessment methods are used too as an integral part of the learning process design, they proved to be an effective self-regulating strategy of learning, (Kelberlau-Berks,2006,).

Knowledge surveys are self-assessment tools used for identifying training needs, course objectives and they help trainees to reflect upon training content and their learning (Nuhfer, 2003; Writh and Perkins,2005). Nuhfer (2003,p1)reported that “Knowledge surveys provide a means to assess changes in specific content learning and intellectual development” . Although Clauss and Geedey(2010,p22)  reported that there was no “evidence of the effects of knowledge surveys on student learning”, they found KS as effective tools for  improving learning and encouraging students to reflect upon their learning. (Goodson; Slater and Zubovic, 2015).

Public Education Evaluation Commission in Saudi Arabia designed a special training course for school evaluators. A comparison among 25 European countries was conducted in terms of selection criteria for evaluators, type and duration of training offered and procedures of school evaluations. The Polish model of school evaluation was adopted as the educational characteristics has many similarities with the Saudi one. Polish experts developed school evaluation framework and training packages which were based on the Saudi Model of professional development. Training phases include online-training, self-study, direct training, guided and independent practice.  Trainees should acquire the knowledge and skills needed for school evaluation. A knowledge survey had been used to explore school prospective evaluators’ improvement in their knowledge and skills of school evaluation, and to utilize the results for the improvement of the course.

The current study explore evaluators learning gain of schools evaluation knowledge and skills during a training course. It also investigates whether knowledge survey are reliable indicators of evaluators learning gain and as needs assessment tools.

Research questions:

The purpose of this study is to explore evaluator trainees' learning gain regarding their school evaluation knowledge and skills during the 71 days of training. Moreover it investigates the reliability of knowledge surveys as indicators of learning gain . It specifically answers these questions:

-      Do trainees gain knowledge and skills during training?

-      Are there any differences among trainees regarding sex, experience and qualification in terms of learning gain?

-      Are Knowledge surveys reliable indicators of trainees’ learning gain?

Bell,P. and Volckmann ,D.(2011). Knowledge surveys in general chemistry: Confidence, overconfidence, and performance. Journal of Chemistry Education, 88 (11), 1469–1476 DOI: 10.1021/ed100328c. Clauss ,J. and Geedey,K. ( 2010).Knowledge surveys: Students ability to self-assess. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning,10(2). www.iupui.edu/~josotl Goodson ,L.A ;Slater ,D. and Zubovic, Y .(2015). Adding confidence to knowledge. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning,15(1), 20 - 37. doi: 10.14434/josotl.v15i1.12761 Kelberlau-Berks,D.(2006). The effects of self-assessment on student learning. A report on an action research project. Retrieved from: http://scimath.unl.edu/MIM/files/research/BerksD.pdf Knowles, M. S. & Associates. (1984). Andragogy in action. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Nuhfer, E. & Knipp, D. (2003). The knowledge survey: A tool for all reasons.In C.Wehlburg andS.Chadwick-Blossey(Eds.), To Improve the Academy, 21, 59-78. Wirth, K. R., and Perkins, D. (2005). Knowledge surveys: An indispensable course design and assessment tool. Innovations in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.macalester.edu/geology/wirth/WirthPerkinsKS.pdf