Students’ Perspective And Experience Of The Skills Course And Learning Management System In A Reformed System-Based Curriculum

Background: The reformation of medical education system and getting up-to-date with novel technologies to understand the learning concepts is a biggest challenge. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the Saudi students’ perspective and experience of learning skills (LS) course and learning management system included in their medical curriculum. Materials: and methods: Courses can be improved significantly if students provide meaningful feedback. The course evaluation survey is the most widespread indirect method of assessing courses. Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) introduced dynamic Blackboard (Bb) in LS course nearly 7-8 years in the first semester of the first year medical curriculum. The College of Medicine, IMSIU, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 306 students who had successfully completed their preparatory year from the academic year 2019-2020 were enrolled. Results: : Out of 306 participants, 241 (53.9% males and 46% females) responded and agreed that the LS course has improved their learning process. The LS course has enhanced students’ overall communication (65.6% males and 66.9% females) and time management (75.4% males and 64.9% females) skills. The LS course helped in students’ understanding of problem and team -based learning methods (72.3% males and 61.3% females), and also assisted in learning of other learning techniques (67.7% males and 64.9 females). Likewise, ~72.2% students agreed that the LS course aided in managing of psychological conditions of stress and anxiety. Most of the students (78.5% males and 74.8% females) revealed that the training of the LS course has tremendously improved their knowledge ( p =0.04). Conclusions: : The majority the students were convinced about the utility of the LS course. The present study warrants the practice of Bb as a new educational instructional learning technique. This is the very first report exploring the Saudi students’ experience and opinion about the effects of the LS course and learning management system on their academic achievements, coping techniques and career advancements since its implementation in IMSIU’s medical curriculum.