Teaching Large Classes Gosha Zywno Eric Kam Maureen Reed

Large or Small? Relative to small classes engaging students requires: More planning More behaviour management More effort to get to know the students More performance skills More s, marking, ….more time management

Effectively teaching large classes involves Make your class feel small Being organized Managing Disruption Teaching to Diversity Personalizing the environment with active learning

Make your large class feel small Walk around, move towards students, group work, TAs hand things out Encourage questions Be available Learn student names….if possible Relate material to student experience, add your own Give personalized feedback

Being organized- The Lecture Know the learning outcomes for your course Know your students level and experience Lecture needs to be added value to the text Teach less better Include stage directions in your notes-when will you do what Have a plan B if technology fails Plan when you will give activities and breaks

During the Lecture Provide an Agenda Know material so you do not need to read Provide occasional summaries Check that students can see and hear you Repeat questions

Managing Behaviour Consider the class contract Plan for disruption Solicit feedback – One minute paper – Create test items – Ask what they would like repeated

Teach to Diversity Multiple ways of presenting the same concept Encourage natural supports Repeat questions Post slides or try guided notes Be engaged with your students A word about age

Teaching Strategies for Younger Learners CharacteristicStrategy Don’t always have life experienceBring in relevant stories, videos, and news items that they can discuss May not have well established values and beliefs (or may have unexamined beliefs) Show them the diversity of opinion on topics and kindly try to correct misconceptions Turn to the faculty member for guidanceTry to show them what a self directed approach is but give clear guidance in assignments and activities Feel the need to be taughtProvide them with content material Like a guided approachProvide guided activities that they can work on in class Are fine with survey courses but want some experience Show them how course materials apply to their life and future professions. Tell them about your research of professional experience Learn in many ways and need information presented in many ways Use a variety of teaching methods

Teaching Strategies for Adult Learners CharacteristicStrategy Have life experienceUse their experience in class. Often have well established values and beliefs Permit debate and challenge ideas, but be firm in expectations Want to be treated as adultsAcknowledge their opinions and comments and questions, be clear that they do not always have to agree with you Need self directed learningEngage students in designing the learning environment, suggest further resources, when appropriate give choices Like problem centered approachesShow how their new knowledge and skills can be applied Like courses with applied information that they can use immediately Tie theory and concepts to applications Learn in many waysUse a variety of teaching methods Rochester Institute of Technology (2013)

Large Class Techniques The story The token system for discussion The class debate