Unveiling the commonly-adopted teaching methods, strategies, and tools in college-based higher education (CBHE): insights from a Delphi study

Although a rich literature exists concerning the pedagogy of university-based higher education, teaching practice in college-based higher education (CBHE) has been largely overlooked in academic research. Very little is known about the methods, strategies and tools that are used to teach higher education in CBHE settings. This paper presents novel insights from a three-round online Delphi panel study comprising 16 expert CBHE teachers from England. The teachers’ subject specialisms represented eight different academic disciplines. The research sought to ascertain which teaching approaches were commonly used by CBHE practitioners. The expert panel identified 76 teaching methods, strategies and tools before reaching a consensus agreement on 54 of these which they viewed to be commonly adopted approaches in the sector. The teaching methods, strategies and tools were themed into six distinct categories: knowledge transmission approaches, interaction-based approaches, learning through doing, tasks and activities, use of digital technologies and a category for a small number of additional approaches which were not akin to any of the other categories. The data generated through this innovative methodology is the first of its kind and transforms what we know about CBHE teaching in England, strengthening the scarcely limited research in the area. The findings of this research should appeal to both higher and further education audiences as it is possible that the teaching approaches which were viewed to be commonly adopted in CBHE may represent new pedagogical opportunities for teachers in university-based higher education, private higher education providers or general further education colleges.