Enhancing Maritime Education: An Evaluation of Teaching Strategies Through MCDM-AHP and TOPSIS

Resumen

This study evaluated the effectiveness and preferences of teaching strategies in maritime education by identifying and analyzing key criteria using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods. Through a mixed-methods approach, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine the relative importance of criteria such as Learning Objectives, Learner Characteristics, Content Characteristics, and Technological Resources. Results revealed that Learning Objectives ranked as the highest-weighted criterion, with Skill Development, Critical Thinking, and Knowledge Acquisition emerging as the most important sub-criteria. Additionally, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to rank preferred teaching strategies. Practical Training was found to be the most preferred strategy, followed by Simulation and Case Studies, while Lecture received the lowest rank. These findings suggest a growing emphasis on experiential, competency-based, and student-centered approaches in maritime instruction.