The Effect of WeChat-assisted Problem-based Learning on the Critical Thinking Disposition of EFL Learners
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v11i12.5927Keywords:
critical thinking, problem-based learning, WeChat-assisted, EFL learner, CCTDIAbstract
Literature suggests the potential of problem-based learning (PBL) in critical thinking (CT) development, but empirical research on the effect of PBL on CT in foreign language pedagogy is limited. This study aims at a better understanding of the relationship between PBL and CT disposition of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL learners). A mixed research design was adopted in both an authentic in-class context and a WeChat-assisted after-class context, with an Adapted California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) as measurement tool of quantitative data, and with classroom observation notes and students’ written comments on PBL experiences as qualitative data to supplement the quantitative analysis. The research findings confirmed that the PBL practice significantly improved EFL students’ CT disposition in general, in Independent Inquiry step, and regarding all CT subscales. The study also revealed that the PBL practice eliminated significant gender difference in Group Negotiation, although there seemed a significant gender difference in Hypothesis Proposition after the PBL practice. Implications and limitations of this study, as well as suggestions for future research are also discussed accordingly.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The submitting author warrants that the submission is original and that she/he is the author of the submission together with the named co-authors; to the extend the submission incorporates text passages, figures, data or other material from the work of others, the submitting author has obtained any necessary permission.
Articles in this journal are published under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC-BY What does this mean?). This is to get more legal certainty about what readers can do with published articles, and thus a wider dissemination and archiving, which in turn makes publishing with this journal more valuable for you, the authors.
By submitting an article the author grants to this journal the non-exclusive right to publish it. The author retains the copyright and the publishing rights for his article without any restrictions.