Utilizing WebQuests for Enhancing Teaching Skills of Saudi Pre-Service Teachers of English as a Foreign Language

Abstract

Purpose: There is need to focus on extensive use of technology in teaching and learning process, since the teachers are provided with well-organized WebQuests that are beneficial for developing effective teaching skills. The study aims to investigate the extent of the effects of WebQuests on the teaching skills and performance of pre-service teachers of English at the College of Education of King Khalid University. Methodology: The study sample, which included 35 students of the general diploma in English, were divided into two groups: experimental and control. The members of the control group were supervised in the traditional way during their teaching practice, and the members of the experimental group were given WebQuests so that they could surf the internet under the guidance of their supervisor and find the information they needed about teaching skills. The teaching performance of the teachers of both groups was assessed via a teaching performance observation form. The data collected through classroom observation was analyzed using SPSS. The differences between the teachers of both the groups in terms of the teaching skills were calculated using Mann-Whitney U test. Findings: Statistically significant differences were found in the rank means of the participants of the control and the experimental groups regarding their lesson planning and teaching skills. The results were favorable for the teachers of the experimental group; however, no significant difference was found between the scores of the experimental and the control groups in terms of lesson evaluation skills. Originality: The use of WebQuests significantly enhances the teaching skills of the students of the general diploma in English.