Effective Teaching and Learning Method: Online Versus Face-To-Face

Usually, tertiary institutions are face-to-face teaching and learning institutions. Covid-19 changed teaching and learning strategies world-wide, including tertiary institutions in South Africa. Thus, the face-to-face teaching and learning mode metamorphosed into online teaching and learning to make it possible to reach students unable to attend lectures in situ. The purpose of the study reported in this chapter was to ascertain the teaching strategies that students prefer post-Covid-19 from the perspective of students studying the built environment. A qualitative approach was adopted for the research by sending open-ended interview questions to tertiary students of the built environment who had experienced face-to-face and online teaching and learning in a tertiary institution in the Free State, South Africa. Data received were analysed using a thematic content analysis method. The findings indicated that students still preferred face-to-face teaching and learning and acknowledged it as the method that enables them to concentrate and understand the concepts being taught better. However, they also regarded online teaching and learning as being necessary in modern times, where most students work and attend school concurrently. Tertiary institutions in South Africa should reshape learning and teaching strategies post-Covid-19 to address the needs of various enrolled students. However, measures must be instituted to prevent the ineffectiveness of the online teaching and learning method. The findings in this chapter give insight into the teaching and learning strategies that tertiary institutions in South Africa should adopt post-Covid-19 to satisfy the needs of various enrolled students and make teaching and learning effective to achieve the desired result.