Abstract:
In this study, the researcher attempted to investigate the effect of computer-mediated
collaborative learning on Iranian advanced female English Learners' critical thinking
and writing performance. In order to do this, initially 90 participants were chosen.
To assure the homogeneity regarding language proficiency, they participated in a
TOEFL exam which was used to select 60 out of 90 students whose scores fell
between +1 and -1 SD for this study. Participants were then randomly assigned to
two 30-member control and experimental groups. In this study, Watson–Glaser
Critical Thinking Appraisal-Form A (Watson & Glaser, 1980) was used as a pretest
to see to what extent the participants think critically. A writing test was also
administered to assess the writing performance of the learners as writing pre-test.
This writing was adapted from TOEFL Writing section and the results were scored
by 3 raters. Then, two groups participated in ten sessions. The experimental group
was provided with 15 laptops as well as with internet access so as to be able to
extract the necessary information for completing their writing. Finally, the critical
thinking questionnaire was administered again. Also, a post-test writing was
administered to investigate the effect of treatment on the writing performance. The
results of data analysis indicated that computer-mediated collaboration led to better
writing performance of the learners. Computer-mediated collaboration also proved
to have a statistically significant effect on critical thinking level of the participants.
Machine summary:
computer assisted language learning (CALL), critical thinking, writing performance, collaborative learning Keywords: * Islamic Azad University Kish International Branch, Kish.
CSCL was considered as a new paradigm of educational technology by Koschmann (1996) who argued that compared to CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction) computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) studies is based on a very different concept of learning, research questions, pedagogy, and research methods.
(Abu Mansor & Ismail, 2012) Writing as one of the four major language skills, has traditionally not received enough consideration in EFL setting and language classes due to lack of teachers and time in school, in spite of its exclusive role in developing communicative skills as well as critical thinking (Chastain, 1988).
(Murphy, Kruger, & Grieszl, 1998), "The ability to write effectively is becoming increasingly important in our global community, and instruction in writing is thus assuming an increasing role in both second and foreign language education" (Weigle, 2002, p.
Critical thinking is also believed to play an important role in the acquisition of language skills in particular, reading and writing (Moore, 1995; Seung-Ryul Shin, 2002; Shaharom Abdullah, 2004; Stapleton, 2001).
Thus, given the significance of critical thinking in the language classes, this study aims to investigate the effect of computer-mediated collaborative learning on critical thinking and writing performance of Iranian English learners.
The effect of computer-mediated collaborative learning on writing performance after the treatment Table 3 The Descriptive Statistics for Comparing Pre-treatment Scores Regarding Critical Thinking Critical thinking (pre-test) Group Mean SD T Sig Experiment 34.