Using an LMS in Teaching English: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Medical Sciences Students’ Evaluations and Suggestions

Authors

Iman Alizadeh, Guilan University of Medical SciencesFollow

Abstract

In this study, I aimed to discover Iranian medical sciences students’ evaluation of using a Learning Management System (LMS) in teaching English and to collect their suggestions for using the system more efficiently. To collect data, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 38 students. The themes emerging from the qualitative content analysis of the students’ responses were (1) technical advantages (accessibility, and online homework bank), (2) educational gains (learning gains, benefits for professors, and professor-student interaction), (3) logistical benefits (optimizing class time, task management, and logistical support), (4) educational shortcomings (limited instruction, correction and feedback, and academic misconduct), (5) technical limitations (Internet problems, and technical glitches), (6) administrative problems (time mismanagement, and logistical challenges), (7) education development (instruction, educational materials, organizing tests, correction and feedback, and quantity and quality of assignments), (8) LMS platform modifications (offline platform, and upgrading the LMS), and (9) logistics improvement (student support, and time management). Based on the findings, the educational officials should consider the educational, technical and logistical requirements of using the LMS in the university programs, use a field-specific LMS or modify the existing one with an eye to the students’ needs, and improve the infrastructure required for using web-based educational technologies.

Keywords

Evaluation, LMS, Medical Students, Qualitative Content Analysis, Schoology

Author Bio(s)

Iman Alizadeh is an assistant professor at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. He teaches Academic Writing, General English, Medical Terminology, and ESP courses. He holds a Ph.D. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Allame Tabataba'i University, Tehran. His research interests center on e-learning, assessment, and vocabulary teaching. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to iman_alizadeh96@gums.ac.ir.

Acknowledgements

I'd like to thank all the students and professors who contributed to the completion of this research. I especially thank the participants in the study and my colleagues who helped me to analyze the data and secure the rigor and trustworthiness of the research. I also thank the educational officials at the Education Development Center of Guilan University of Medical Sciences.

Publication Date

11-21-2019

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3613

Recommended APA Citation

Alizadeh, I. (2019). Using an LMS in Teaching English: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Medical Sciences Students’ Evaluations and Suggestions. The Qualitative Report, 24(11), 2851-2873. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3613