Arab Educational Information Network

The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of interactive social stories on the development of emotional intelligence and imaginative thinking skills in the Arabic language for third grade students. The study was followed by a quasi-experimental method. The study sample consisted of two groups: an experimental group studied according to the interactive electronic social stories, and a control group studied according to the traditional method. The number of students (62) was distributed by (32) students for the experimental group and (30) students for the control group. To achieve the objectives of the study, a test was developed for emotional intelligence and a test for imaginative thinking. The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the two experimental groups which were studied using the electronic interactive social stories and the mean scores of the control group which was studied in the traditional way to test the emotional intelligence and the imaginary thinking for the benefit of the experimental group. The results also showed that there was a statistically significant difference in emotional intelligence in the Arabic language among third graders due to the interaction between teaching method (electronic interactive social stories, the traditional method) and gender (male, female). In addition, the results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the imaginary thinking in the Arabic language among the third-grade students due to the interaction between teaching method (electronic social interactive stories, the traditional method) and gender (male, female). In light of the results of the study, the researcher recommended the need to encourage teachers to use the interactive electronic social stories and use it in teaching Arabic language, conduct continuous training workshops for teachers, concentrate on utilizing the interactive electronic social stories teaching method in teaching Arabic language, and give attention to story-telling on developing different Arabic language skills. (Author's abstract)