The Impact of Proposed Online Problem-Based Learning Activities on Developing University EFL Students’ Expository Essay Writing

Abstract

The current study aimed at investigating the impact of using proposed online problem-based learning activities on developing university EFL students’ expository essay writing skills. The sample of the study comprised 74 English majors from the World Islamic Sciences and Education University in Amman. The students were randomly assigned into two groups, experimental and control. To achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher designed a checklist to identify the expository essay writing skills that university EFL students need and a pre/post expository essay writing test. The validity and reliability of the instruments were guaranteed through implementing scientific approaches. The results of the study showed a significant statistical difference at (α=0.05) between the two groups in the post expository essay writing test in favor of the experimental group that was taught by using the online problem-based learning activities. The experimental group outperformed the control group in different essay writing areas including content, organization, vocabulary, language use, and conventions.