Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article)
EFL learners’ low motivation and lack of sufficient prior knowledge can be regarded as the barriers that impede their success in presentation of high quality writing pieces. To solve the mentioned problems, some researchers suggest the application of inventive technology-enhanced instructions in tea...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Tabriz
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elt.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_12986_1f3635903b4a18d537f3b5c63af2af63.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797256790880026624 |
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| author | Masoumeh Dousti Zahra Amirian Daryush Nejadansari |
| author_facet | Masoumeh Dousti Zahra Amirian Daryush Nejadansari |
| author_sort | Masoumeh Dousti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | EFL learners’ low motivation and lack of sufficient prior knowledge can be regarded as the barriers that impede their success in presentation of high quality writing pieces. To solve the mentioned problems, some researchers suggest the application of inventive technology-enhanced instructions in teaching the writing skill. In this regard, WebQuest as a computer-based instructional model providing the already-selected website links can be proposed as an appropriate candidate. Hence, the very aim of the present experimental pre-test/post-test study was to address the effect of WebQuest-based instruction on Iranian undergraduate EFL learners’ achievements in their overall essay writing ability as well as their writing ability concerning the elaboration, focus, conventions, vocabulary, and organization sub-skills. To do so, 50 participants in the experimental group and 49 participants in the control group performed the WebQuest-based and the alternative tasks without access to the web links, respectively. To analyze the obtained data, six ANCOVAs were run. The results revealed a significant improvement in EFL learners’ overall writing performance as well as their outperformance in the organization, focus, elaboration, and vocabulary subskills, but not the conventions sub-skill. The findings of this study indicated optimistic implications about the potential applicability of novel educational technologies in Iranian higher education context. EFL learners’ improved writing performance and vocabulary acquisition as well as their increased motivation and collaboration in WebQuest-based writing classes can be regarded as a valuable clue for teachers, administrators, and designers to pave the way for further integration of innovative technologies in EFL settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:27:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94ddb5eb86b74437b1e4c2cfb704be66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2251-7995 2676-6876 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:27:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Tabriz |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning |
| spelling | doaj.art-94ddb5eb86b74437b1e4c2cfb704be662024-03-19T22:27:44ZengUniversity of TabrizJournal of English Language Teaching and Learning2251-79952676-68762021-06-01132711313610.22034/elt.2021.42866.231212986Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article)Masoumeh Dousti0Zahra Amirian1Daryush Nejadansari2Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranDepartment of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranDepartment of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranEFL learners’ low motivation and lack of sufficient prior knowledge can be regarded as the barriers that impede their success in presentation of high quality writing pieces. To solve the mentioned problems, some researchers suggest the application of inventive technology-enhanced instructions in teaching the writing skill. In this regard, WebQuest as a computer-based instructional model providing the already-selected website links can be proposed as an appropriate candidate. Hence, the very aim of the present experimental pre-test/post-test study was to address the effect of WebQuest-based instruction on Iranian undergraduate EFL learners’ achievements in their overall essay writing ability as well as their writing ability concerning the elaboration, focus, conventions, vocabulary, and organization sub-skills. To do so, 50 participants in the experimental group and 49 participants in the control group performed the WebQuest-based and the alternative tasks without access to the web links, respectively. To analyze the obtained data, six ANCOVAs were run. The results revealed a significant improvement in EFL learners’ overall writing performance as well as their outperformance in the organization, focus, elaboration, and vocabulary subskills, but not the conventions sub-skill. The findings of this study indicated optimistic implications about the potential applicability of novel educational technologies in Iranian higher education context. EFL learners’ improved writing performance and vocabulary acquisition as well as their increased motivation and collaboration in WebQuest-based writing classes can be regarded as a valuable clue for teachers, administrators, and designers to pave the way for further integration of innovative technologies in EFL settings.https://elt.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_12986_1f3635903b4a18d537f3b5c63af2af63.pdftechnology-enhanced instructionwebquest-based instructionwriting skillwriting sub-skills |
| spellingShingle | Masoumeh Dousti Zahra Amirian Daryush Nejadansari Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning technology-enhanced instruction webquest-based instruction writing skill writing sub-skills |
| title | Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) |
| title_full | Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) |
| title_fullStr | Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) |
| title_short | Application of WebQuest-based Instruction in Higher Education Context: EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Skill (Research Article) |
| title_sort | application of webquest based instruction in higher education context efl students achievement in writing skill research article |
| topic | technology-enhanced instruction webquest-based instruction writing skill writing sub-skills |
| url | https://elt.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_12986_1f3635903b4a18d537f3b5c63af2af63.pdf |
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