Student’s Perceptions Towards Blackboard and Moodle as Tools for Innovative and Self-directed Learning

A Learning Management System (LMS) contributes highly to the learning experience of university students. A Learning Management System plays a fundamental role in modern education by providing a well-organised platform for managing, delivering, and tracking learning activities. The importance of Learning Management Systems has grown significantly, as educational institutions and organisations progressively lean towards digital learning environments to promote innovative learning. Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard and Moodle can offer a flexible platform for students to foster self-directed learning, collaboration and digital competency. However, it is imperative to gain student buy-in as the success of a platform such as Blackboard or Moodle depends on student acceptance and engagement. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of university students towards two different Learning Management Systems, namely Blackboard and Moodle, as tools for innovative learning and self-directed learning. The sample for this study was made up of 196 third-year students who had experience working with both Blackboard and Moodle. Online questionnaires were sent out to the identified third-year students and responses were then analysed using both data visualisation and descriptive analysis. The results yielded from the study gave a clear guideline of the perceptions that students had towards Blackboard and Moodle as tools for innovative learning and self-directed learning. The findings of this study strongly indicate that Blackboard was perceived by students as a more effective platform for supporting innovative and self-directed learning compared to Moodle. Blackboard's structured layout, intuitive navigation, and features such as progress tracking, announcements, and virtual classrooms were frequently cited as factors that enhanced students' ability to manage their learning independently and engage creatively with course material.