The implementation of an asynchronous e-learning course in higher education – lessons learned

Abstract

The pandemic boosted the use and impact of electronic learning (e-learning) in many life areas including education. Based on that externally forced experience, the Business Information Technology Bachelor degree program (BIT) at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) radically changed the learning-teaching set-up from traditional face-to-face (F2F) instruction to asynchronous e-learning in the mandatory course "Corporate Finance (CF)". Against initial expectations, the success of the students participating in the asynchronous e-learning course, measured by the mark achieved, was notably higher than compared to traditional F2F instruction. This outcome is even more surprising in light of the current research results. Varkey et al. (2022) addressed the problem with the current literature in their research on asynchronous learning with the lack of guidance in the creation of a high quality and high-fidelity asynchronous courses. The goal of this conference paper is to give insight into the learning design, setting, methods, instruments, concepts, etc. in the newly implemented asynchronous e-learning course CF and highlight lessons learned. The lessons learned might contribute to best practices for other asynchronous e-learning courses and can help to improve such learning settings.