Students' perception of supplementary, online activities for Japanese language learning: Groupwork, quiz and discussion tools

This paper discusses the frequency of use and the reasons for non-use of the online component of a course developed in Blackboard 9, one popular learning management system (LMS) in tertiary education. The study particularly focuses on the three tools in the LMS: Groupwork tool, Downloadable quiz and Discussion forum. These tools were used in a Japanese upper beginners-level course in 2009. At the end of the semester, a student survey was conducted. The survey result indicates that although use of the online component of the course and of the individual tools differed, the frequency of the student use of online supplementary course materials and tools has an effect on their positive perception of the educational value, the development of scholarly skills, that this type of teaching strategy makes. The frequency of student use is determined by their attitude towards online learning, their ability to use the different functions, their peer's use of the same tools, and their access to computers.