The effect of Computer-Mediated Collaborative Learning on Iranian Advanced Female EFL Learners' Critical Thinking and Writing Performance

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 ۹۰ participants were chosen. To assure the homogeneity regarding language proficiency, they participated in a TOEFL exam which was used to select ۶۰ out of ۹۰ students whose scores fell between +۱ and -۱ SD for this study. Participants were then randomly assigned to two ۳۰-member control and experimental groups. In this study, Watson–Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal-Form A (Watson & Glaser, ۱۹۸۰) 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 ۳ raters. Then, two groups participated in ten sessions. The experimental group was provided with ۱۵ 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.    

Keywords:

computer assisted language learning (CALL) , Critical thinking , Writing performance , Collaborative learning