Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks Or Simply Using The Old Tricks At The Right Time

Abstract

This study used a specially designed questionnaire to explore student perceptions of tertiary service quality and preferences for fourteen commonly used teaching methods within five dimensions of higher learning.  A convenience sample of 243 undergraduate and graduate students was drawn. Overall, the similarities in the service quality gap between these student groups were greater than the differences. Specifically, students perceived their education emphasized learning of facts and principles but they preferred to be taught learning of skills and procedures.  Their most favored learning methods were textbooks and lectures and their least favored learning methods were role playing and team presentations. The perceived comparative value of the effectiveness of alternative teaching tools in accomplishing five dimensions of higher learning is discussed.