Suitability of Blackboard as Learning Management System to assess oral competence: Students' perceptions and results

Abstract

Learning a foreign language involves the practice and development of linguistic competencies through a series of communicative activities. Assessing each of these competencies face to face can provide an accurate profile of the student's level of language proficiency. But assessing them online, particularly oral skill, poses a challenge for both students and professors. The change of scenario and use of digital tools may intimidate students and deprive the interview from naturality and warmth. In this paper, the suitability of Blackboard Collaborate as Learning Management System to assess English speaking skill is studied together with other factors influencing students' online performance. 81 students from 5 different undergraduate programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences were assessed, following the threefold pattern of IELTS speaking test questions (International English Language Testing System). Their results and responses to a final survey are contrasted so as to check the positive of negative effect of online testing on the students' state of mind and eventual achievement. Blackboard platform proves to be as a suitable online framework for optimal performance, and the examiner's attitude is equally a conditioning factor in students'success.