Optimal Classroom Ratio
I think a ratio in an online classroom is manageable at 30-35 students, considering some will not start on time and others may drop the course. The traditional classroom should be managed 10 students below online.
Daryl Richardson,
I wish that I did have fast fingers, but in the Live Chats that I was refering to, I have a microphone! The students have to type everything, most of the time, but I have the option of "promoting" students in the discussion, if they have some personal experience relating to the discussion...
I think the larger class generates more discussion after a few brave souls break the ice... I use current events and a modified "socratic" method, to provide the initial push, and then I can focus on guiding the discussion.
In my smaller classes, the discussion starts, but quicky slows down from a lack of diverse points of view.
I also believe that the larger classes creat more positive peer pressure - competition, than the smaller classes, where the students often do not want to make another student be "hurt" by their superior performance.
I have only led small traditional classrooms, but I observe many of the same differences when I have a small turnout for the Live Chat online sessions - the bigger the better!
I agree with Daryl! I have managed two online classes in economics with no difference in attrition or scores from the same class with 18 students...
I have also had the same results in the traditional classroom... Could it be that small class sizes are overrated??
I have taught online courses with as few as 24 students and as many as 55 with all numbers in between. I find that the best interaction between students takes place in the smaller classrooms. The smaller number of students also allows me the time to provide quality responses to each student.
I do find that one of the most frustrating parts of teaching in the online environment is the fact that students are not always prepared to start on time. This fall in particular, I had several with financial aid payment problems who wanted "special consideration for deadlines." Had they turned in their paperwork on time, they would have been able to participate on time. These students miss out on the opportunity to become fully engaged from the start and are often times among those who don't finish at all.
