1.Objective
With the rise of online education, universities are challenged to adopt teaching methods that effectively enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Harvard University seeks to evaluate and select the most suitable teaching method for its online courses, considering multiple criteria and expert judgments under uncertainty.
2.Criteria
- Engagement
- Flexibility
- Accessibility
- Learning outcomes
Problem:
Four potential teaching methods are being evaluated for online courses:
- Method A: Synchronous live lectures.
- Method B: Asynchronous recorded lectures.
- Method C: Hybrid (mix of synchronous and asynchronous).
- Method D: Project-based learning.
3. Construct Pairwise Comparison Matrices
Gather input from supply chain experts, using linguistic variables to evaluate the direct influence of one risk factor on another.
|
Code |
Linguistic Term |
Fuzzy Triangular Number (FTN) |
|
1 |
Equally Importance/preference |
(1, 1, 3) |
|
2 |
Weak importance/preference |
(1, 3, 5) |
|
3 |
Strong Importance/preference |
(3, 5, 7) |
|
4 |
Very strong importance/preference |
(5, 7, 9) |
|
5 |
Extremely strong importance/preference |
(7, 9, 11) |
The table below indicates the direct relation matrix, which is the same as pairwise comparison matrix of the experts.
Criteria Pairwise Comparison (Linguistic Terms Transformed into Fuzzy Numbers)
|
Criteria |
Engagement |
Flexibility |
Accessibility |
Learning Outcomes |
|
Engagement |
(1, 1, 3) |
(3, 5, 7) |
(1, 3, 5) |
(5, 7, 9) |
|
Flexibility |
(1/7, 1/5, 1/3) |
(1, 1, 3) |
(3, 5, 7) |
(1, 3, 5) |
|
Accessibility |
(1/5, 1/3, 1) |
(1/7, 1/5, 1/3) |
(1, 1, 3) |
(1, 3, 5) |
|
Learning Outcomes |
(1/9, 1/7, 1/5) |
(1/5, 1/3, 1) |
(1/5, 1/3, 1) |
(1, 1, 3) |
Teaching Methods Pairwise Comparison (Based on Each Criterion)
For simplicity, let’s use the “Engagement” criterion.
|
Methods |
Method A |
Method B |
Method C |
Method D |
|
Method A |
(1, 1, 3) |
(5, 7, 9) |
(3, 5, 7) |
(7, 9, 11) |
|
Method B |
(1/9, 1/7, 1/5) |
(1, 1, 3) |
(1, 3, 5) |
(5, 7, 9) |
|
Method C |
(1/7, 1/5, 1/3) |
(1/3, 1, 3) |
(1, 1, 3) |
(3, 5, 7) |
|
Method D |
(1/11, 1/9, 1/7) |
(1/9, 1/7, 1/5) |
(1/7, 1/5, 1/3) |
(1, 1, 3) |
3. Run Softwate
The data is placed in the software and the software is executed. The following video shows the implementation of the software:
4.Get Result
In this step, you can see the result of the report. The report is presented in three types of formats: online report, Excel and Word. You can view or download three types of formats below.
You can also run your project in Fuzzy AHP online software: