Using Three Online Course Management Systems in EFL Instruction.
Reima Al-Jarf · 2005
Abstract Nicenet, WebCT and Moodle were used to teach grammar to freshman students at the College of Languages and Translation, King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. The subjects were divided into three groups and were randomly assigned to the three online courses. The same questions, discussion threads, grammar websites, daily grammar lesson, exercises and quizzes were posted in the three online courses. Daily observations of student reactions, questions and discussions as well as responses to post-treatment questionnaires showed that Nicenet was the most popular. The effective and ineffective use of Online Course Management Systems in EFL instruction by female freshman students in Saudi Arabia are discussed. 1. Introduction Thousands of students and instructors are using Online course Management Systems like Blackboard, WebCT, Online Learning, eCollege, Moodle, Manhattan Virtual Classroom and Nicenet and many others to teach all kinds of courses including EFL and ESL. A literature review showed some studies that compared the technical aspects, i.e. web course tools of some online courses. For example, Marshall University (1999) presented a chart comparison between Blackboard, Convene, Embanet, eCollege, Saratoga Group, Symposium, TopClass, WebCT, Web Course in A Box, and WebMentor. The chart compares the software costs, hardware requirements, technical support, developmental features, student tools, instructor tools, instructional features, administrator tools, and administrative features. In addition, Wisdom tools at the Center for Excellence and Indiana University (1997) presented a chart comparing e-Web,