Blended learning in improving students’ critical thinking and communication skills at University

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of the blended learning model in improving critical thinking and communication skills of students at university. This is a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group design involving one experimental group and one control group. The research population comprised students sitting in the Entrepreneurship class at the Department of Electronic Engineering Education, who were selected purposively. The data were about critical thinking skills that were gathered using a test, while the data about communication skills were obtained through observations. The data were analysed using a paired sample t-test and an independent sample t-test. The findings show that: (1) the implementation of the blended learning model effectively increases the critical thinking skills; (2) the use of the blended learning model effectively improves students’ communication skills and (3) according to the independent sample t-test, students’ critical thinking skills and communication skills in the experimental class had a significant difference from those in the control class.

Keywords: Blended learning model, critical thinking skills, communication skills.