Utilization of blackboard among undergraduate medical students: Where we are from the reality?

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate undergraduate medical students' perceptions to Blackboard (Bb) utilization learning management systems in terms of benefits and difficulties.MethodsThe study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Saud University. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the students. The questionnaire consisted of three parts including demographic information, utilization of Bb and difficulties while using Bb.ResultsA total of 808 questionnaires were distributed with 42% response rate. Among the participants, 224 (65.7%) were male and 116 (34.3%) were female students. Of them, 78.1% reported “disagreement and strong disagreement” on “Bb usefulness in communicating with the instructor”. However, 74.1% students reported “disagreed and strongly disagreed” on “Bb usefulness in communicating with other students”, whereas majority of the students (71.8%) did not use multimedia available in Bb system. Also, 61% students agreed that there is a “lack of formal training” on the use of Bb in the college, and 37.2% students agreed that the using “Bb system is a time consuming”. However, 39.2% students did not know about the Bb systems add any additional burden on the students. The disagreement trend of male and female students concerned with the Bb utility and difficulties were almost same.ConclusionThe finding of the study showed a poor utilization of Bb learning features. Students faced technical difficulties while using Bb. The findings of this study indicate the need of compulsory students training of any newly introduced learning management systems including Bb in the educational institute.