The impact of Blackboard Collaborate breakout groups on the cognitive achievement of physical education teaching styles during the COVID-19 pandemic

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has forced schools and universities to close. Globally, education systems face unprecedented challenges, and learning management systems (LMS) are the only solution. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a Blackboard collaborative breakout group on the cognitive achievement of physical education teaching styles. The quasi-experimental method involved creating two groups: one experimental and one control, with the experimental group using Blackboard collaborative breakout groups and the control group relying exclusively on online lectures and continuing with the same method without breakout groups. The study sample consisted of 40 students who were randomly assigned and divided equally into the two groups. Based on the research sample, homogeneity within the group and equivalence between groups in terms of age, Grade Point Average (GPA), and high intelligence test (IQ) were evaluated. The results showed that the experimental group’s cognitive achievement was superior to that of the control group. Therefore, the design of the learning process enhances student collaboration, participation, and reinforcement. Additionally, the experimental group retained the learning outcomes for a month after the cessation of all teaching and learning processes. To conclude, giving a lecture using webinar tools such as Blackboard Collaborate Ultra does not necessarily mean achieving the intended educational goals. As a result, it is necessary to look for ways to integrate active learning strategies, such as collaborative learning, to enhance student involvement in distance learning.