The Role of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Developing Learning Skills: The Case of Blackboard The Role of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Developing Learning Skills: The Case of Blackboard

The current study aims at measuring the efficiency of Blackboard in developing the collaborative and individual learning skills of Taibah University students. Moreover, it has sought to unravel the differences (if any) in the effectiveness of the system in developing the above-mentioned skills according to the change of the user (student, staff member), gender (male, female), and the change of college to which the user belongs (scientific, humanitarian). The study adopted an analytical descriptive approach as it suits the nature of the study and its variables. Doing so, the researchers have built a learning tool which consists of two lists of e-learning skills; the first is for the individual e-learning skills and is divided into three main focuses including 45 statements, and the second is for the collaborative e-learning skills and is divided into three main focuses including 26 statements. The study sample consisted of members of staff, students (males and females) distributed across colleges of Taibah University (n= 17). The study came up with some results of which the most significant were: the Blackboard's efficiency in developing the individual e-learning skills and the collaborative e-learning skills for the students is statistically high. This reflects the importance of integrating the electronic systems within the learning and teaching processes and underlines its positive role in achieving the quality learning at low cost and effort. In addition, the study came up with the absence of indicative differences statistically in developing the individual and collaborative e-learning skills as per the user (student-member staff), their gender (male-female), or the college with which the user is affiliated (scientific-humanitarian). The study recommends the conduct of periodic assessment processes for the system's efficiency in developing students' various learning skills and calls for conducting similar studies to determine the necessary technological requirements for developing Blackboard on the basis of the individual and collaborative e-learning skills. Abstract The current study aims at measuring the efficiency of Blackboard in developing the collaborative and individual learning skills of Taibah University students. Moreover, it has sought to unravel the differences