Facilitating higher order thinking skills (HOTs) in ESL reading through computer mediated learning tutorial / Noraini Ahmad Basri

Developing learners’ critical reading skills at tertiary level is crucial because learners need the knowledge and skills to be able to read academic materials constructively throughout their university courses. However, L2 learners have difficulties in developing higher order thinking skills (HOTs) such as analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating, all of which are important for critical reading. Among the problems identified in this study are learners’ lack of performance in advance reading and critical thinking, learners’ motivation in acquiring the skills and the lack of useful learning supports which can facilitate knowledge acquisition and skills attainment of HOTs. There is an urgent need to seek effective tools that can be used to teach these skills in the classroom. For this purpose, technology has been found to assist learners’ vocabulary growth, improve learners’ reading comprehension and motivation, and increase their reading performance. This study applies a mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative approaches) at examining the use of a customized computer-mediated learning tutorial (CMLT) in the teaching of higher order thinking skills in ESL reading classrooms. One hundred and eighty-five (185) undergraduate learners who pursued their degree at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia participated in this study. The experimental group learners were given lessons and activities on Reading and Critical Thinking course through the use of a CMLT.