Abstract
The present paper aims to investigate EFL instructors’ perceptions of Blackboard learning management system (LMS) at Taif University in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this purposes, the researcher attempted to answer two questions. The first question investigates EFL instructors’ perceptions of Blackboard LMS. The second question aims to identify instructors’ suggestions to overcome difficulties encountered while using the system. A questionnaire of 4- Likert Scale was used to gather data from one hundred and two instructors to answer the first question, and content analysis was used to answer the second question. The collected data were analyzed in the form of descriptive statistics. The results, on one hand, revealed that 75% of the instructors have not used Blackboard technology before coming to university, which would affect their perceptions of the system. It was also evident that most of the instructors believe that the different features of Blackboard LMS are either poor or very poor. In addition, the instructors, in most of their responses to the functionalities of using the Blackboard LMS, rarely or never used the system. On the other hand, the results revealed that the instructors have a positive attitude towards the system in terms of its impact on learning, which can be the starting point to help them be familiarized more with the system’s features and functionalities through professional development. Based on the results, the researcher presented a number of conclusions and recommendations.
Highlights
Introduction and Theoretical BackgroundIn order to facilitate students’ learning, instructors may use a variety of teaching techniques and methods to provide learners with better learning opportunities
The present paper aims to investigate EFL instructors’ perceptions of Blackboard learning management system (LMS) at Taif University in Saudi Arabia
The results, on one hand, revealed that 75% of the instructors have not used Blackboard technology before coming to university, which would affect their perceptions of the system
Summary
In order to facilitate students’ learning, instructors may use a variety of teaching techniques and methods to provide learners with better learning opportunities In this context, instructors may use the Blackboard technology as a tool to aid learners to be more motivated and actively involved in the learning process. According to Beatty and Connie (2006), Blackboard is one of the leading commercial learning management systems LMS software packages used by North American and European universities. This learning system is a software application to facilitate teaching and learning. The system has capabilities of instruction, communication and assessment. Hall (2006) argues that successful implementation of LMS depends on providing training and support for instructors, and on the level of student active engagement and student and instructor satisfaction with the LMS used
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