Development of Research-based Blended Learning Model to Enhance Graduate Students’ Research Competency and Critical Thinking Skills

This paper is a report on the findings of a Research and Development (R followed by the research finding from the experts’ interviews indicated that the model should be included 8 components and 9 procedures to develop research competency and critical thinking skills. The 8 components were 1) Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), 2) Cloud Learning Management System (CLMS), 3) learning courseware, 4) learning resources, 5) scaffolding, 6) communication, 7) learning assessment, and 8) RBBL activity; while the procedures included: 1) Introduction, 2) Storyboards, 3) Keynote lectures, 4) Resources for Information and Communication Technologies, 5) Faculty Consultants, 6) Reflective Blog, 7) Assessment, 8) Presentation of Storyboard work, 9) Examination. Second, the research finding from the experimental stage found that there were statistically significant difference of the research competency and critical thinking skills posttest scores over the pretest scores at the .05 level. The students agreed that learning with the RBBL model was at a high level of satisfaction. Third, according to the finding from the experimental stage and the comments from the experts, the developed model was revised and proposed in the report for further implication and references.