Abstract
Abstract The use of Course Management System (CMS) software that assists blended and independent online learning or e-learning, has increased dramatically in the Gulf region since 2000. The most popular products include Blackboard, Moodle and Angel. In spring 2009, research was conducted at Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar (WCMC-Q) on native Arabic speakers’ (9 Arabic speakers, 4 controls) satisfaction with and ease of use of English language versions of Blackboard, Moodle, and Angel in the main areas of CMS functionality, including synchronous chat, email, electronic peer editing, electronic quizzes, bulletin board and course document downloading. A large corpus of anecdotal data and end-of-semester questionnaire indicated that native Arabic speakers did not prefer any particular CMS. Arabic speaking students overwhelmingly indicated that CMSs were valuable to their education, and that online activities, particularly chat, online quizzes, document downloading, and bulletin board, could augment traditional and paper-based classroom activities, but should not entirely replace traditional methods. Females demonstrated less favorable outcomes with using CMSs and gender differences in online learning and CMSs should be a future area of research.
Highlights
E-learning, here defined as education delivered or facilitated by the internet, has become increasingly important throughout the Gulf region
On the most important Likert scale question – “overall value to learning” – all 3 Course Management Systems (CMS)’s scored between 3.4–3.6, indicating that students perceive that all these systems do add value to the learning experience
The conclusions of this study indicate that more data-driven research is needed in the area of Arabic speakers’ use of CMS’s and online learning in general, on differences in gender, culture, and language in online learning environments
Summary
E-learning, here defined as education delivered or facilitated by the internet, has become increasingly important throughout the Gulf region. Course Management Systems (CMS) are one of the most wide-spread means of delivering online course content and facilitating blended learning, and have rapidly taken hold in Gulf educational systems. On May 6, 2009, Blackboard, Inc. acquired its rival CMS ANGEL Learning, Inc. the major difference in CMS products will be between proprietary source code products such as Blackboard and open-source products such as Moodle and Sakai, in which licensing is free. A widely quoted and extensive study comparing Moodle and Blackboard (Randall, 2009) was carried out in the North Carolina Community College System Surveying both faculty (n=199) and students (n=1,127), page researchers measured satisfaction with course navigation, ease of use, communication and collaboration tools, course content, assessment, and upload capabilities, variables which were measured in the current study. There are systems with different options and features that you can choose from.”
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