Formal web-based course meeting English educational needs to enhance reading skill

Abstract

The boom of online education was in the 2000s when the computer age started and instructional design experienced relevant changes that led to the development of models, learning methods and new theories, such as the Learning Theory for the Digital Age, Connectivism. This research deals with eLearning in the context of enhancing reading skills. The aim of the study was to establish how a formal web-based course enhances students’ reading comprehension skills. Qualitative surveys were used to identify learners’ perceptions towards reading and eLearning. Reading texts in English are fairly important to students’ career, since there is a great desire to enhance this skill. ELearning has been a beneficial tool to enhance reading skills since the interactive activities stimulated their interest in the subject. Quantitative pre and post-tests were administered to determine the level of knowledge before and after immersion in the eLearning course. Main findings showed that using a formal web-based platform enhanced the reading skills of the students who took the course in a significant average. It is imperative to extend and promote the use of eLearning at Universidad de Cuenca by sharing the beneficial aspects of eLearning confirmed in this study.