The Effect of Blackboard Learning on the Development of English Writing Skills among University Students

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Blackboard platform on the development of students' writing skills in English. It employed a quasi-experimental design followed by qualitative interviews. The sample consisted of seventy students enrolled in the second semester of the academic year 2019/2020. They were divided equally into two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group was taught through Blackboard platform whereas the control group learned through conventional lectures. The researcher prepared a writing achievement test depending on the basic information needed to deal with English writing course ( ENGL 104) taught at Taibah University. The two groups were pre-post tested using a writing achievement test. The researcher analyzed data through Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS). Twenty students in the experimental group were interviewed to identify their perceptions about Blackboard learning. Results revealed that Blackboard learning was effective in developing and improving the writing skills of the experimental group. The results also revealed a positive attitude towards Blackboard learning. The researcher recommended other researchers to conduct similar studies by using different sample in other areas and other language skills to determine the effect of Blackboard learning on English language learning.

Keywords: Blackboard learning, educational technologies, online learning, Learning Management System.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-19-12

Publication date:July 31^st 2020