The Effects of the Station Rotation Model in Promoting Libyan Students’ EFL Writing: Blended Learning

Authors

  • Najah Belazi School of Languages, Literacies and Translation Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA
  • Malini Ganapathy School of Languages, Literacies and Translation Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/ajelp.vol9.1.10.2021

Keywords:

Blended learning, Libya, SRM, technology, writing

Abstract

In the new digital age, educational technology has been commonly integrated to improve educational practices. Despite the existence of basic facilities in secondary schools of Libya, the use of technology has not been officially encouraged and practiced by instructors. Likewise, there is no empirical account on how technology implementation could improve secondary school students’ writing performance. This study aimed to explore how students’ engagement in a Station Rotation Model (SRM) using a blended learning approach, could improve their writing performance. This study employed a quasi-experimental design, which includes 51 second-graders for the experimental (26 students) and control group (25 students) in a Libyan secondary state school in Alkhoms, Libya. The comparison of the students’ pre-test and post-test writing scores on a 300-word essay indicated a significant improvement in their performance. This study employed a qualitative instrument to investigate students’ perceptions of the SRM. The results of the focus group interviews further showed that the students had highly valued the online and collaborative aspects of the intervention for pleasure and pedagogical purposes. It was also found that the process-oriented view of learning is better demonstrated with an SRM writing course. The findings of this study can be a point of reference to stakeholders, teachers, curriculum designers and even students to develop an alternative writing approach to improve EFL students’ writing performance.

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Author Biographies

Najah Belazi, School of Languages, Literacies and Translation Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Najah Belazi is currently pursuing her PhD at the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation. Her research interest includes English Language Teaching.

Malini Ganapathy, School of Languages, Literacies and Translation Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Dr. Malini Ganapathy is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. She has a Certificate of Education (TESL), B.A. (Hons.) in English Language and Literature Studies, M.A. and Ph.D in Applied Linguistics from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She has 18 years of teaching experience in secondary schools prior to joining Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2014. Her research interests include Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), writing and literacy education. She has published numerous research articles focusing on her area of research, both in international and local journals.

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Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Belazi, N., & Ganapathy, M. (2021). The Effects of the Station Rotation Model in Promoting Libyan Students’ EFL Writing: Blended Learning. AJELP: Asian Journal of English Language and Pedagogy, 9(1), 111–127. https://doi.org/10.37134/ajelp.vol9.1.10.2021