Identifying the Most Useful Instructional Methods in Courses Taught Concurrently on Campus and Online

Abstract

This study used a questionnaire to identify instructional methods/teaching strategies that were most useful to encourage student performance in on-campus and online classes. The study also identified differences in the usefulness of instructional methods between the on-campus and the online students. Participants in the study were former and current students from graduate-level business courses in accounting and finance. The study examined 10 instructional methods related to four teaching strategies — constructivism, collaboration, problem-based learning, and technological enhancements currently used in the course to improve student performance. Results of the analysis show that the instructional methods of group activities, along with supplemental content-organizing materials, were most useful to students. There were also some differences in usefulness between on-campus and online students for the instructional methods prerecorded CD lectures, special projects, and course modifications, but not necessarily in the direction expected. These findings seemed to support the premise that the use of a variety of teaching strategies should be encouraged to enhance student performance.