International Journal of Sustainable Energy Development (IJSED), Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2019 Learning Management Systems and Student Performance Khawlah Ahmed, Mujo Mesonovich American University of Sharjah Abstract In today’s technology driven societies, academic delivered, creating innovative, transformative institutions, especially at the tertiary level, are learning and resourceful classrooms [1] [2]. With incorporating Information and Communication diverse e-learning activities and “programs located at Technologies (ICTs), utilizing learning management different points of the e-learning spectrum ranging systems (LMS) and adopting blended learning from non or trivial online presence to fully online approaches to improve student performance and provision”, an “abundance of literature on the use, enhance student learning. Currently a good deal of application, and benefits of learning through research is conducted to assess the effectiveness of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) such techniques and technologies on student in almost all stages of education” [62] and a great learning and performance. A great deal of this deal of research is being produced. Courses which research deals with LMS’s, e-learning platforms, have web/internet-based activities are no longer a such as Blackboard, but not much is being conducted novelty in higher education [23]. It is predicted that on LMS’s provided by publishing companies, like by 2020 higher education will be adopting McGraw Hill Education, whose course management “teleconferencing and distance learning to leverage systems are available for a range of courses and expert resources” where “learning activities will being used throughout the world. This paper move to individualized, just-in-time learning examines the effectiveness of McGraw Hill approaches” and where “hybrid” classes will Education’s Connect on improving student grades in “combine online learning components with less- a pre-calculus course at a university in a Gulf frequent on-campus, in–person class meetings” [4]. Cooperation Council (GCC) country. Using simple Dominating the academic scenes in higher and multiple linear regression analysis to investigate education are the online learning management whether there was a relationship between the systems (LMS). Currently a good deal of research is Connect online assignments’ grades and the total being conducted to assess the effectiveness of using course grade of students in the course, and two LMS’s on enhancing student learning and independent sample t-tests to compare the grades performance. A great deal of this research between two pre-calculus courses (one taught using concentrates on using LMS’s such as Blackboard, the Connect component, and the other taught in the Desire2Learn, and Moodle. However, publishing traditional format) results show that using Connect companies, such as Pearson and McGraw Hill has positive impact on student grades. Education, are also providing online learning/course management systems that are becoming part of the Keywords: learning management systems, online academic scene in higher education. Their various learning, technology, teaching, McGraw Hill adaptive and course management systems are Education Connect, EFL/ESL learners available for a range of courses and being used in blended learning contexts as complementary or supportive techniques to the conventional in-class, 1. Introduction face-to face instruction methods. McGraw Hill Education’s leading course management system, Improving student performance, enhancing Connect, is being used extensively in higher student learning, and getting students to be active in education institutions around the world, including the the learning process continue to be leading priorities Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the in education. To help achieve such goals in today’s Middle East (such as the institution in which this technology driven societies, academic institutions, study is conducted). According to an article especially at the tertiary level, are incorporating published on their website [41], Connect is currently Information and Communication Technologies being used by more than 5 million students and (ICTs), and faculty are busy experimenting with such professors, with about 680 course titles and over 71 technology to enhance their traditional methods of disciplines across the curriculum. teaching. Online learning management systems Based on research conducted by various (LMS) have been shown to have the potential to help institutions in the US, in collaboration with McGraw support such efforts. Hill Education, they assert that Connect has been ICTs have been changing the organization of shown to have positive impact on all aspects of the information and how that information is being Copyright © 2019, Infonomics Society 582 International Journal of Sustainable Energy Development (IJSED), Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2019 teaching and learning process, of importance here are lead with “battles over the efficacy of residential student performance, pass rates, average exam learning versus online learning” disappearing, and scores, final course grades [58][22]. However, there is a “quiet adoption of blended learning,” with besides these studies conducted in collaboration with its “attraction of mixed delivery mechanisms” being McGraw Hill Education, not much research has been implemented, “often without transcripting and conducted on the use of this learning management virtually without announcement” [2]. As things system. This study examines the effectiveness of this stand right now, the future of academia will see web based tool on course grades in an undergraduate technology being driven by pedagogy in a pre-calculus course at a university in one of the GCC comprehensive and sophisticated blended learning countries. environment [23]. 2. Background Information 3. Impact on learning outcomes LMS’s have been referred to as ‘‘learning The pervasive use of digital technologies and platforms’’, ‘‘distributed learning systems’’, ‘‘course online courses has led researchers to question the management systems’’, ‘‘content management impact of on-line learning technology on student’s systems’’, ‘‘portals’’, and ‘‘instructional educational engagement and learning outcomes. management systems’’, and “combine a range of Research conducted has presented somewhat mixed course or subject management and pedagogical tools findings. However, while some research conducted to provide a means of designing, building and showed no significant difference between online and delivering online learning environments” [15]. Also traditional learning [18] [6] [39], a great deal of known as virtual learning environments, LMS’s studies support the effectiveness of using online incorporate interactive technology in the classroom learning [43] [44] [47] [63], presenting empirical [29] [17] and offer different levels of interaction and evidence that shows that there is significant positive potential to create active learning contexts [62]. impact of online, blended and hybrid courses on According to Vázquez-Cano and García [62] a learning outcomes. “full-fledged LMS addresses three major Such positive impact has been attributed to the requirements: first, it is a completely realized, fact that they not only accommodate pedagogical networked digital environment that includes requirements, disciplines, and course levels, but also interactive interfaces for both teachers and students. student needs [31]. They have positive effects on Second, a LMS provides the content of the student interaction, motivation, skills, performance, curriculum and assessments for teaching and and achievement [3] [1] [13]. They have been learning in digital form. Third, a LMS includes described as being fair in their assessment practices special tools for managing classroom activity” (p. [21] and reported as aiding in helping students 63). They explain that “A robust LMS should be become responsible learners who can utilize the able to… centralize and automate administration, use knowledge they gained in a variety of contexts [24] self-service and self-guided services, assemble and [32]. Positive effects on students’ academic deliver learning content rapidly, consolidate training outcomes and increased student engagement and initiatives on a Web-based platform, support ownership of learning have been reported, and portability and standards, personalize content, and teachers have also reported that it enables them to be enable knowledge reuse” (p.63). more effective in being able to meet student needs The use of LMS are currently dominating the and make fundamental shifts toward higher-value academic scene in higher education institutions [14] responsibilities [13]. In sum the studies report that and blended learning approaches are the platforms such blended learning contexts increase student where interaction and communication are being motivation, ownership of learning, and improve facilitated by such technology driven resources. academic outcomes. Blended learning, with its different models [28] and According to the McGraw Hill Education domains [13], like ‘hybrid’ approaches to learning Regional Manager (personal communication), their [5] [10], such as ‘flipping’ or ‘wrapping’ [12] [26] learning/course management system Connect is [37], is fairly new, which may account for why there currently being used across the Gulf Cooperation is little consensus about its definition in higher Countries (GCC) in many of their higher