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So, what do we mean by a large class?

Ask some professors, and any class over twenty students is too large of a class. On the other hand, some professors are regularly teaching classes of over a hundred students every semester. And while it may be tempting to assume that some faculty are just not equipped to deal with "large classes", it's important to look at the details of each individual classroom before passing judgement.

Many things can impact the amount of time and energy required to run a course, and while enrollment numbers are certainly one of them, they are not the only factors that might lead to overwhelmed faculty.

• Face-to-Face / Digital: Face-to-Face courses tend to have notable in-class energy requirements, while digital courses tend to require significantly more pre-course design work. 
• Subject Matter: Some subjects simply take more time to process and grade, particularly writing heavy subjects, such as History and Law.
• Tools and Technology: The time-saving powers of technology are wonderful, but not all programs/courses can benefit from them equally.
• Faculty Support: Assistance from TAs and Graders can be severely limited based on subject matter and program resources.

The Problems

Before we jump into potential solutions, let's look at some challenges professors often face when teaching a large class.

While these are hardly the only obstacles faculty will have to navigate, these are the key ones that we will try to address with our tips below. You may also find that one solution may solve multiple problems when used creatively.

So, with all that settled, let's dive in.

• Student Engagement
• Personalization & Feedback
• Communication Overload
• Assessment/Grading Overload
• Technical Issues
• Building Community
• Instructor Burnout

Tip #1: Answer Questions Pre-Emptively and Publicly

Fielding student’s queries is a time consuming process, particularly when the questions being asked involve long, detailed responses. It’s also especially frustrating when the answer has already been provided elsewhere in the course.

This issue is only exasperated when there are hundreds of students in a course, especially if they keep asking the same questions. 

Fortunately, answering these questions publicly can actually provide an opportunity to solve multiple problems at once. By turning this routine and typically private task into a public discussion, we can help increase instructor presence, build community, and potentially even encourage student engagement. 

Create a FAQ page with links to more details elsewhere.

Often times, the answers to students' questions are already present somewhere in the course, they just struggle to find them. A FAQ page can help in multiple ways, by providing short, to the point answers while also pointing students in the right direction to get more detailed information.

Answer questions publicly to head off repeat questions.

When it comes to questions that faculty can’t predict, it's a good idea to share the answer with the entire class, especially if it's a question that other students might also have. Announcements are a good way to do this, or through a Q&A Discussion post.

Use clarity audits on assignments to predict future questions.

Running an assignment through a clarity audit can help faculty identify areas where students might become confused. Once potential questions have been identified, they can either be answered by adjusting the assignment instructions or through scheduled announcements.

Empower assistants and encourage students to answer each other.

You can save a lot of time by equipping TAs with the knowledge needed to answer common questions for you. You can also provide a way for students to answer each other, such as through a Q&A Discussion post. Just be sure to regularly check answers for accuracy.

Tip #2: Prioritize time considerate activities

When teaching a large class, time is precious. Yet many traditional learning activities don’t necessarily take that into account. Grading a twenty-page paper when you have twenty students is already a significant task, but it becomes an unreasonable one when grading for two hundred students. 

Quick Grading When You Can

Focus on assessments that can be graded quickly or automatically.

• Auto-graded Simulations / Interactive Modules
• Self-graded or
• or Visual Summaries
• Short Answer Discussions with limited word counts

Depending on how they are designed and managed, group assignments can also make grading quicker. 

Sparse Grading When You Can’t

In cases where more time consuming assignments are unavoidable, spread them out to give yourself adequate time to grade.

Scaffolding large papers can also help, particularly when you , such as accurate formatting and research quality. Just be certain to explain what exactly you are looking for to your students. 

Remember, you don't have to grade everything, every time. 

Opt for Pre-Made Learning Resources

While not many people associate with saving time, looking at the approach within the context of a large class can help us see the extra benefits.

By sharing subject matter via pre-made learning materials, such as pre-recorded videos, podcasts, and multi-media documents, faculty can work more closely with their students during their limited time together.

This does make designing the course more time consuming, however.  

Tip #3: Make the Most Out of Your Helpers

One benefit of high enrollment courses is that faculty are often provided extra support in the form of teachers assistants and graders. These assistants can be crucial for managing large classes, but their impact depends heavily on how they are utilized.

Failing to provide clear guidance or properly delegate tasks to these critical allies can easily lead to wasted effort and missed opportunities.

Manage TAs and Graders Carefully

when it comes to working with others in a large classroom environment. Not only do they help with preventing mistakes and wasted efforts, but they can also provide peace of mind to everyone involved.

• Explicitly define roles and expectations
• Create detailed rubrics and templates
• Ensure assistants know how to use any tech
• Empower them to be proactive

It’s also a good idea to check in regularly to ensure there has been no miscommunication or confusion about responsibilities or expected outcomes. 

Incentivize Students to Help Each Other

You can also encourage students to support each other, leading to more distributed workloads for instructors while simultaneously fostering a stronger learning community.

• Utilize collaborative assessments like group projects or peer-reviewed assignments.
• Provide small incentives, such as extra credit or a free dropped grade, for answering questions in Q&A discussion forums.

Peer-to-Peer assistance often develops organically, and sometimes in places where instructors can not see or control it. By providing explicit incentives and platforms, you can encourage a more responsive and resilient classroom environment. 

Tip #4: Use Tools and Technology

From automating routine tasks to enhancing communication and organizing course materials, digital solutions can dramatically reduce administrative burdens and free up valuable time. By thoughtfully integrating technology into their workflows, faculty can manage large classes more efficiently, respond to student needs more effectively, and create a more engaging and accessible learning experience for everyone. 

Blackboard Analytics

Whether online or in person, a major challenge for faculty teaching large classes involves tracking and analyzing student engagement and activity. Fortunately, tools can help, offering instructors critical insight into the details of their students’ activity.

By visualizing data such as assignment submissions, login frequency, and participation in discussions, faculty can quickly identify students who may be struggling or disengaged, and intervene early.

Flexible Grading

Blackboard’s is designed to streamline the assessment process by providing faculty with everything they need to grade efficiently, all in a single interface. It supports inline commenting and quick navigation between student submissions, and provides easy access to rubrics and course content.

This feature also now includes the ability to summarize feedback based on faculty's selection from a rubric, as well as refining feedback, from raw notes into a professional, student ready tone.

Tip #5: Be Honest and Transparent

Clear communication standards are critical in large classes, but the need doesn't stop at listing your . Setting expectations around response times, preferred contact methods, and appropriate channels are just the starting point. Establishing and upholding boundaries are just as crucial.

But the true key is telling your students why these standards and rules exist.

There is no guarantee that you will receive more grace from your students, but by sharing the reality of your job, you allow those who would empathize to do so.