I think 15-20 to 1 is an optimal online student-instructor ratio.
There are many activities for the instructor in a class. Discussions, quiz, exam, and weekly assignment are needed to grade. If they are too many students in a class, the time needed to a class management is very demanding. With this ratio, the tasks for the instructor appear to be management.
Thanks.
Simon,
Do you mean a maximum of 6 students in a course or just a group. If a group, then you would be ok with 24 students or 4 groups of 6?
Herbert Brown III
For team projects I like to have a maximum of 6 students. Any more than this number, the team has a hard time managing who does what as it is too fine a grain. At the same time, I like to see no less than 3 people as then the portions of the assignments become to much for each individual on the team.
laura,
What you describe is the classic problem with student to instructor ratios. Most everyone agrees that 15-20 is the optimal level except administrators. Administrators see the bottom line and focus on the financial side and that does not always match the optimal ratio for teaching online classes. It gets even more problematic when administrators put 100+ in a course.
Herbert Brown III
I think the optimal online student-instructor ratio should be around 15 students in a course. Fifteen is small enough to provide individual attention and large enough for vigorous discussion board activity. However, I have yet to teach an online class that did not have less than 30-35 students.
When the class size approaches more than 20 students, the class can become overwhelming and unwieldy real fast. Grading completed work and providing detailed feedback becomes a more difficult task
Theran,
I agree completely with your statement. There are ideals and then there is reality. I have also noticed the same influential factors you mention here. It is not universal; however, it is interesting to see this ideal range of 15-20 appear in this forum from many different individuals.
Herbert Brown III
todd,
Is there a reason that 15 seems to be a magical number for you?
Herbert Brown III
greater than 6 less than 40. For me I like about 15.
!:15
I see discussion on 15-20 students, and also the need to look at the workload--say number of assignments etc.
I have also seen a difference in undergraduate and graduate courses.
Some schools have a roster of say 35. Some around 15. I suspect that the number of students in a class may be influenced by the number of enrolled students, and of course profit. Yet the school has to be competitive in the market place. Some schools use more technology than others, and this costs money.
I guess what I am saying is that the online student to instructor ratio is not universal, there are mitigating circumstances. This would mean that faculty must choose whether to focus on money or student outcomes.
I don't believe that I can say a specific ratio in numbers. However, from my own experience a medium-sized class (10 or so students) is the most successful. Too large of a class leads to instructor frustrations, especially if the class is a beginners course with students new to online learning. Too small of a class makes it very difficult for students and instructor to engage and the presentation of varying opinions and information is much less likely.
Darlene,
I agree completely. The ratio does differ based on content of the course and even level of the course content. I teach business communications/writing and because of the detailed feedback that has to be given on writing assignments, the ratio needs to be a little lower.
Herbert Brown III
Tyra,
Thanks for the clarification. I agree that the important thing is to design materials and assignments and use tools appropriate for the online environment and the content of the course.
Herbert Brown III
This is an interesting question, as I really don't think there is a set answer. I feel it depends on the course. I teach English, so the assignments are quite different from a math course. Thus, I feel each academic area needs to be carefully viewed before justifying what the ratio should be. I have generally found the English department has few students in the courses, so the ratio would be lower.
Based on my experience after observing online faculty in classes, I would say between 10-20 students per class. If a course has too few students, there is a chance that some or most will drop and then there may only be one or two students left, which makes it more difficult to have a stimulating discussion - especially in an online environment wehre there can be a time lapse between responses in discussions. If a course has too many students, an instructor -and the other students themselves- may find it difficult to keep up with student discussions. An instructor may also not be able to provide the proper feedback the student's deserve if there are too many students, because they may not have the time to do so.
Hi Herbert,
No I meant the course will not survive. If a course does not have sufficient enrollment then it will usually be removed from the offerings. Therefore, as an instructor it is best to be prepared for a certain number of students. The important thing is to design material and assignments appropriate for both the online environment and the type of course.
Best
Tyra
James L,
Does this vary at all with different courses or does this apply to all courses in your opinion? Are there variables that might impact that ideal ratio...what might some of those be?
Herbert Brown III
Tyra,
You mention that the "course" will not survive. The course will survive will it not? Do you mean the student to student quality discussions and interactions will not be present? I assume this is the ideal ratio for your courses. Do you think that is appropriate for all courses or do you think there are other variables that might impact the ideal ratio? What might those be?
Herbert Brown III
Melinda,
Most people have mentioned a range of 15-20. Have you had good success building quality student to student interaction with 6-10 students.
Herbert Brown III
Susan,
I agree these are all important variables in the ideal ratio. I also realize that administrators do not always determine optimal ratios based on research and experiences, but usually on optimal return on investment and profit ratios. This can make it difficult with some classes. I have also had very large classes and they are very challenging to provide the same quality interaction you can provide in a course with a more optimal ratio.
Herbert Brown III
I have taught exclusively online for 7 years and am comfortable with 15-20 students with my Religion courses. Currently, I have a class enrollment of 45 in a 5-week Philosophy class and it is overwhelming with grading requirements and deadlines. Short classes are great, but the workload can be intense. Depending on content and level of course work should guide student enrollment. The operative word is ‘should’. In my dream time, I see the perfect college enroll according to content difficulty.
