The Impact of the FLEX Blended Learning Model on Developing EFL Students' Critical Reading Skills

Critical reading skills are essential to academic success and provide more opportunities for learning in today's world. With today's fast-changing technology, traditional reading instruction must be updated to incorporate technology-enhanced learning. This study aims to examine the impact of the FLEX Blended Learning Model on the development of critical reading skills and to explore the critical reading strategies employed during its implementation. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach. The study was conducted with 55 second-year English education students enrolled in a critical reading course at a university in Thailand. The data collection instruments included a pretest, a posttest, and an in-depth interview. Data were analyzed using means, standard deviations, a paired t-test, effect sizes, and thematic analysis. The results indicated that the FLEX Blended Learning Model was effective in enhancing students' critical reading skills, as evidenced by statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest scores at the .05 level. The interview findings revealed that the students employed five critical reading strategies, including annotating, analyzing, questioning, summarizing, and reflecting during the learning process, which demonstrated the development of their critical reading skills.