Aim/Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of online problem-based learning (PBL) in enhancing critical thinking among novice programmers with varying levels of self-regulated learning (SRL). While PBL has been widely studied in traditional settings, this study uniquely examines the integration of online PBL with SRL to enhance critical thinking. This area remains underex-plored in the field of programming education. Background Problem-based learning (PBL) emphasizes learning behaviors that lead to criti-cal thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaborative skills, prepar-ing students for professional academic skills. Methodology A quasi-experimental design involving pre-test and post-test on the experi-mental and control groups was used in this study. The experimental group used online PBL, while the control group followed direct instruction. The sample comprised 120 second-year Bachelor of Computer Science students from two different higher education institutions. The participants were evenly divided be-tween the experimental group (n = 60) and the control group (n = 60). Critical thinking was measured using Yoon’s Critical Thinking Disposition instrument, which evaluates students’ critical thinking. Contribution This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge by highlighting the ef-fectiveness of online PBL in learning and its potential to enhance the critical thinking of students with diverse SRL levels. Findings The results revealed that students in the experimental group scored significantly better on the critical thinking test compared to the control group (F = 5.87, p <.05), with mean scores of 101.98 and 97.85, respectively. These findings re-vealed that the integration of online PBL with SRL fostered positive improve-ments in students’ critical thinking. Recommendations for Practitioners Provide professional development for practitioners to effectively design, imple-ment, and facilitate online PBL experiences. Recommendations for Researchers The findings may encourage other researchers to apply the online problem-based learning approach in different courses and provide evidence that online PBL can serve as a viable alternative to traditional direct instruction. Impact on Society Our study emphasized the importance of encouraging interdisciplinary collabo-ration to create PBL tasks that mirror real-world challenges and prepare stu-dents for professional practice. Future Research Future work can experiment with online PBL to explore its potential in other disciplines and educational contexts. © (2025), (Informing Science Institute). All Rights Reserved.
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