The Effectiveness of E-Learning Usage in Classroom Teaching to Promote Critical Thinking Ability

Abstract

The use of e-learning has been believed to be a teaching tool to help the learning process be easier, practical, interesting, interactive, and motivating. E-learning is seen as one of the modes of teaching that helps students learn independently over the times and technological advances, so that its use has been widespread. However, its wide use seems to be a concern, where network availability, user access, and users become obstacles in its application in teaching. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of e-learning usage in classroom teaching process to promote students’ critical thinking ability at the Institute of Teacher Training and Education Mataram (IKIP Mataram) - Indonesia, which is a private higher education institution in Indonesia. This study is an experimental research with the design of “one group pretest-posttest design”. The research sample consisted of 17 students in the physics education program at IKIP Mataram. Students' critical thinking ablity was assessed using the critical thinking ability test instrument adapted from the Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test. The data of critical thinking ability were analyzed statistically, where homogeneity, normality, and t-test were conducted. The research result showed that the use of e-learning was effective in promoting students' critical thinking ability. In this study the researchers also evaluated the use of the internet among lecturers in the learning process. The results analysis are explained further in this article.