Blackboard (BB) as Learning Management System (LMS): Undergraduate Economic Students' Reports Regarding Engagement

This qualitative study examined what undergraduate sophomores at a state university reported regarding the use of Blackboard as a learning management system that engaged them in the classroom. The study used Fredricks, Blumenfeld, and Paris (2004) framework of dimensions of student engagement namely, affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement. Little is known regarding what undergraduate students report regarding how BB engages them in the classroom. Sophomore students were chosen in that they might be more acclimated to campus life following their first year. An undergraduate economics course was used, given how the discipline builds on previously learned skills and the need for rigor. Conclusions and Recommendations. Conclusion 1. Students reported that BB, as a learning management system, engaged them by allowing them to positively focus on learning. Recommendation for practice. The instructor should encourage the use of BB since students found it as a positive and informative source. There should be more emphasis place on using BB for the support it brought in helping student achievement as they look forward to using it during and out of class for their learning. Recommendation for research. A qualitative research should be conducted to further examine the positive and effectiveness of BB on students experience using it to focus on their learning. A study is needed to provide an in-depth report on the level at which student's use BB to positively focus on learning. Conclusion 2. Students reported that BB as a learning management system engaged them by allowing them to improve their academic performance. Conclusion 2. Students reported that BB as a learning management system engaged them by allowing them to improve their academic performance. Recommendation for practice. Faculty should maintain the level of academic support that they are giving students using BB since students reported that this kind of support played an important part in their success. Wider networks of faculty should be included in professional development to make this option available to all students. Recommendation for research. A qualitative research should be conducted in other areas of the curriculum at the university, examining how students think BB should be used as a form of instruction, and whether students believe it helps improve performance in other areas besides economics. Conclusion 3. Students reported that BB as a learning management system engaged them by allowing them to have a personal connection with their instructor. Recommendation for practice. Instructor should encourage not just students but other faculty members to use BB based on the level of engagement with his students in his economics classes. He should also consider doing this so that as many students as possible can benefit from his success of using BB to engage them. This needs to be a broad-based conclusion, not a recommendation for Economics professors. Recommendation for research. A qualitative study should be conducted to examine how BB engages students via instructor communication in other content areas in the liberal arts. A qualitative research should be conducted with other students so the university can get a better understanding of how diverse population feels regarding how BB engages them with their instructor. Conclusion 4. Sophomore economics students at a state university reported that BB as a learning management system engaged them in class via the timely notification system employed by the faculty member. Recommendation for Practice. Faculty should be trained to employ BB to notify students regarding the critical content and announcements added to the BB on at least on a twice a weekly basis. Recommendation for research. A qualitative study should be conducted to examine how BB engages students via instructor communication in other content areas in the liberal arts. A qualitative research should be conducted with other students so the university can get a better understanding of how diverse population feels regarding how BB engages them with their instructor. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]