Evaluating the Impact of Technological Tools on the Academic Performance of English Language Learners at Tertiary Level: A Pilot Investigation

Abstract

The current investigation aimed to explore how and to what extent technology tools and web-delivered language learning platforms impact the academic performance of English language learners (ELLs) at the tertiary level. The study used a quantitative experimental research method employing a single-group pre-test and post-test design. A total of N=525 undergraduate computer science students partook in this research. The participants enrolled in their first semester at the Faculty of Information Technology in a private sector university in Lahore, Pakistan, were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were gathered in two phases: a pre-test was administered in the first week, and a post-test was conducted in the sixteenth week. The Reading Comprehension and Use of English assessments adapted from ETS TOEIC – a credible instrument in terms of validity and reliability – were used for this purpose. The investigators applied frequency analysis in the form of percentages to get various descriptive statistics. They utilised Spearman’s rank-ordered correlation and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to verify the findings of the descriptive statistics, address the research question and respond to the statistical hypotheses. Despite diverse linguistic and technological barriers, the results revealed a positive impact of technology tools on ELLs’ academic performance. The study proposed that taking undergraduates from other disciplines and exploring other variables affecting ELLs’ performance and confidence need further consideration