Faculty Satisfaction Regarding Using Blackboard as an Online Teaching Method During Covid-19 Pandemic Wafaa Aljohani
Author(s): Wafaa Aljohani*
Abstract
Background: The entire world was grappled under the fear of COVID-19 pandemic which immensely impacted the educational sector. Lockdowns forced to educational institutions to adapt changes and abruptly switch to emergency online teaching learning method. Various online learning management systems were being used during the remote transition to maintain continuity of education. Methods: The current study was conducted using descriptive cross-sectional survey model. It was used to assess the perceptions of various faculties at a private medical institution (Batterjee medical college) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding using a Learning Management System (LMS), particularly blackboard during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The results of the current study disclosed that only 37.3% of the participants were highly satisfied with this module, whereas, 62.7% were moderately satisfied. It also reports satisfaction with online module showed significant inverse correlation between age, experience years (where p=0.0001) and qualification of staff (where p=0.036). Overall, high percentage of faculty members felt that their workload was amplified and were always under pressure of deadlines. The main concerns identified by faculty were students’ engagement and their personal time. Conclusion: This research revealed the perceptions of faculty at private medical institution who taught the course in both the ways i.e. traditional and online. Faculty perceived that online module was successful during the pandemic but cannot be a replacement of traditional face to face teaching and learning. The research done recommends usage of blackboard learning management system post pandemic as it had positive impact on student achievement and enhanced the ease of communication between the faculty and the peers.