Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University of Kurdistan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Iran
3 Department of Educational Sciences. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Kurdistan University. Sanandaj. Iran
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of online education have highlighted the importance of educational supervision. During this time, educational supervisors have played a crucial role in enhancing the quality of education and promoting professional development for teachers. Recognizing the significance of supervision in online education, this qualitative study, employing a phenomenological approach, explores the experiences of educational supervision during the era of online education. The participants of this study were educational supervisors, instructional leaders, school principals, and assistant principals in the Kurdistan province of Iran who were involved in online educational supervision during the 2020-2021 academic year. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using a purposive sampling method until theoretical saturation was reached. Data analysis and theme extraction were conducted using the Attride-Sterling (2001) method and MAXQDA software version 2020. The three overarching themes of the research were: 1) the enhancement of educational supervision, 2) the modernization of educational supervision, and 3) the professional development of educational supervisors. The findings of the study demonstrate that at the outset of online education, supervisors faced confusion and challenges in supervising virtual classes. They applied the supervisory structures of face-to-face classes to monitor online instruction and sometimes neglected the supervision process. Over time, supervisors gradually adapted to this new form of supervision and adopted new strategies for it. Supervisors recognized their new role in the supervision and education process during this time. Additionally, virtual supervision can contribute to the professional development of teachers and supervisors in the post-COVID-19 era.
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