Teaching Large Classes
Large classes present teachers with several obstacles. TAs may offer professors some
relief, but using TAs effectively - so that they get something out of the experience
- is also difficult. Beyond that, teachers who want to incorporate writing assignments
often report trouble responding to them all. The links below offer suggestions on how
to use TAs effectively in large classes, how to handle various kinds of writing activities,
and how to lead discussions in large classes. There are also tips on preparing effective
PowerPoint presentations and links to case studies that have been conducted on large
classes, learning, and teaching.
Teaching Large Classes
- Assessment
that Promotes Learning (John Lowe)
- Lowe offers various forms of classroom assessment techniques that will be useful
for large classes, including student exam self-analyses.
- Teaching Large Classes: AUTC
Project (Australia)
- This site contains several pages of resources that discuss how large classes differ
from smaller classes, as well as several case studies of large classes.
- Teaching Large Classes
Guide (Maryland)
- This site includes links to several papers by faculty on how to "personalize" large
classes, manage the paper load, and involve TAs productively.
- Teaching Large Classes Web site (U of
Western Ontario)
- A full Web site of ideas about teaching large sections, including links to "Best
Practices" and tips on designing PowerPoint presentations that should prove
particularly useful.
Other Resources
- Assorted Links on Teaching
Larger Classes (University of Arkansas)
- Bibliography
on Teaching Large Classes (Penn State, PDF)
- Books on Teaching Large Classes (available through CTLT)
- Collecting
Feedback in Large Class Sections (Penn State, PDF)
- FAQ on Teaching Large
Classes (Indiana)
- Links
on Teaching Large Classes (Sonoma)
- Teaching
Large Classes Well (Penn State, PDF)
