• Aftab Ahmed Khan, Adel Zia Siddiqui, Syed Fareed Mohsin, Mohammed Mahmoud Al Momani, and Eraj Humayun Mirza.
• Aftab Ahmed Khan, MSc, M.Bioeth, B.D.S. Researcher, Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2017 Nov 1; 33 (6): 1473-1478.

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to examine the impact of learning management system and WhatsApp application as educational tools on students' academic achievement and attitude.MethodsThe 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), in-class 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).ResultsUsing 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.ConclusionThe 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.

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