Despite considerable research on the outcomes of teaching approaches at the tertiary level, there have been very few investigations of students' perspectives on the different approaches. This study, based on a series of in-depth interviews with students who completed a unit using traditional face-to-face tutorials and web-based bulletin-board tutorials, addresses the deficit. The findings highlight the differences in students' perspectives on the two types of tutorials, including the perceived role played by the tutor, themselves and their peers. The study suggests that a balance is needed between the two types of approaches.