ABSTRACT
Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the impact of learning management system and WhatsApp application as educational tools on students' academic achievement and attitude
Methods: The sample population was the students of six medical colleges of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia attending Medical Pharmacology's semester course in Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] program from September 2016 to January 2017. An exploratory approach was adopted based on a comparison between students exposed to only in-class lectures [Group-N], inclass lectures together with WhatsApp platform to disseminate the lecture slides [Group-W] and students group with in-class lectures facility blended with Learning Management System [LMS] and WhatsApp platform [Group-WL]. The students' grades were assessed using unified multiple choice questions at the end of the semester. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation [p<0.01]
Results: Using learning management system [LMS] and/or WhatsApp messenger tool showed a significant positive correlation in improving students' grades. Additionally, use of WhatsApp enhances students' in-class attendance though statistically insignificant
Conclusion: The results are pivotal for a paradigm shift of in-class lectures and discussion to mobile learning [M-learning]. M-learning through WhatsApp may be as an alternative, innovative, and collaborative tool in achieving the required goals in medical education