Large Class Teaching

Welcome students

Something as simple as welcoming students at the door or at the beginning of an online class helps build trust and community and can further engagement down the road. You may want to play music before the lecture begins to further enhance the feeling.

Use icebreaker questions

It can be difficult to get to know each and every student in a large class. Consider using an online polling tool to ask icebreaker questions that can help you get to know the students. Questions might include academic questions, like  “what is your program or major?” or fun questions like “who is the best superhero?”

Use a visual course outline

A visual course outline, or syllabus, can help students better understand expectations and allow them to process the information quickly and easily.

Simplify Canvas courses

Making your Canvas course simple and easy-to-navigate saves time for instructors and students when they are looking for information. It can also prevent questions from students who are confused about where to go or what to look for.

Change the name of “office hours”

Using common language to rename office hours can increase student uptake and participation. A simple change, such as “student help hours” or “student drop-in hours” encourages students to make use of the time, especially when it can be challenging to chat one-on-one during a large class session.

Use lecture alternatives

Studies have shown that as class size increases, so too does the amount of time spent lecturing. Although the logistics of certain active learning activities can be challenging, you may try these options:

• Think, pair, share: Consider a question, discuss your response with the person seated next to you, then share with the class if called upon.
• Check your understanding: Using an online polling option, pause the lecture for a time while you ask students to respond to a simple question about the content. You can have them respond to a series of multiple choice answers. For a low-tech option, distribute coloured pieces of paper to each student. Then, have each colour correspond to an answer. This makes it easy to check for large-scale understanding of the question.
• Thumbs up/thumbs down: Students can give a real or virtual thumbs up if they understand a concept and are ready to move on, or a thumbs down if they are not ready.
• Exit ticket: Deliver a short multiple choice quiz (one or two questions) either within the LMS, using a hands up/system, or polling, to ensure students have no major misconceptions before class ends. A more extensive end-of-class exit ticket might ask students to briefly write about the most confusing idea from the class, so it can be explained further at the start of next class.
• Breakout rooms: Google Meet and Kaltura Virtual Classroom both offer the ability to place students into smaller online groups. This can be used for everything from case study discussions to worked math problems to group assignments.

Give students structured opportunities for feedback

Circulate informal monthly surveys to the class often to see their opinion of the pace of class, if they can see/hear adequately, etc. This can be especially useful for very large classes where students are unable to speak up or do not feel comfortable doing so. New instructors can find this feedback valuable.

Arrive organized

Arriving on time, with tools and systems ready and tested, can go a long way to encouraging positive student behaviour in a class. Students will be more likely to put in the effort during a class if you have made a clear effort into making sure you can deliver your material seamlessly and effectively.

Pause for questions

Remember to leave a clear space for students to ask questions. In a large class, students may not feel comfortable putting up their hand in the middle of a lecture. Instead, invite them to participate with questions at regular intervals, such as at the end of a slide or example. You may also want to use some of the feedback and question alternatives above.

Leverage a calendar for drop-in or office hours

Using an electronic tool, such as Google Calendar, to indicate when and where drop-in or office hours take place can be useful to coordinate multiple instructors and teaching assistants. A Google Calendar can be shared and posted within Canvas allowing students to see available times and any possible cancellations. Google Calendar also offers an appointment-setting option.

Monitor chat

It can be challenging to present material online while simultaneously monitoring the chat for questions from students. Assign a teaching assistant or trustworthy student to monitor the chat and have them notify you when an important question comes up.

Use question banks

Question banks in Canvas allow you to store questions used for assessments. You can quickly build assessments and use randomization options to ensure a variety of questions for large classes.

Stagger testing/exam times

In a large class, staggering testing times gives you more time to address student questions and logistical concerns. In an online or flexible hybrid environment, staggered testing times means less strain on the system and allows for a smoother experience. As little as 10 minutes can make a difference here.