The use of authentic teaching methods in tourism higher education: A case study of Level 6 university students

Abstract

Tourism, Hospitality, and Events (THE) higher education has often been criticised for graduates who are poorly prepared for realities of the workforce. Authentic teaching is one method in which it is argued instructors can balance theory with practical application. This study used a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) philosophy to engage Level 6 university students who had experienced an authentic teaching method. The survey was conducted between 22nd February 2023 - 19th April 2023. The results showed that the majority of students felt authentic teaching was beneficial to their understanding of course content, whereas 100% of students enjoyed the task and would like to see more similar tasks applied in the future, indicating the overall benefit of authentic teaching.