System-related Factors that Predict Students’Satisfaction with the Blackboard Learning System at the University of Botswana

Abstract

This study examined students’ satisfaction with the Blackboard Learning System and the factors that predict their levels of satisfaction. The sample for the study comprised 503 undergraduate students of the University of Botswana selected from seven faculties and 42 departments of the university. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire. The results showed that all the system-related factors focused upon in the study, i.e. net benefits, self-regulated learning, content quality, teaching/learning quality, system quality, and service quality, correlated with users’ satisfaction with the Blackboard system and the factors jointly predicted 54% of variations in the students’ satisfaction. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the university needs to improve the support services provided for users of the system. The Blackboard support staff should always consider making themselves available for assistance bearing in mind that the system is all about technology which can develop technical faults at any time.