Integrating ICTs to promote EFL learners' Critcal skills

Abstract

The present study seeks to investigate the influence of ICTs on improving EFL learners‟ critical thinking skills. It basically focuses on integrating the different types of ICTs to enhance EFL learners‟thinking skills. Since, the value of this competency in the process of EFL teaching and learning is attracting wide attention in the field of education. The main purpose of this research study is to examine the relationship between integrating ICTs in EFL classes and the development of learners‟ critical thinking skills. In view of this, this work is divided into two main parts: a theoretical part which includes two chapters and a practical part that contains only one chapter. The first chapter introduces a theoretical background related to ICT in education and the different ICT tools used for educational purposes. Also, it introduces the trends of e-learning - hybrid/blended teaching and learning. Then, it discusses in details the various obstacles that prevent both teachers and students from integrating ICT successfully in teaching and learning process. The second chapter attempts to introduce a general review of critical thinking in education and the main characteristics of a critical thinker. Moreover, it describes the learners‟ critical skills –reading, writing, listening and speaking. Besides, it attempts to examine the relation between integrating ICT and the development of learners thinking skills. Finally, the third chapter deals with the methodology adopted to conduct the research study with the analysis of the findings. The research method utilized in this study is a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. The data were gathered through a series of questionnaires administered to a sample of 30 students (first/second year master students) and 10 teachers at the Department of English of Abedelhamid Iben Badis University (Mostaganem). The results obtained showed that integrating ICTs helps in enhancing EFL students‟ critical thinking abilities. Consequently, EFL students need to be provided by effective strategies to handle ICTs and to have the appropriate tools to improve their critical thinking skills.