Part of the challenge of teaching a large class is developing methods to deal with the large numbers of students in it. The following suggestions offer ways to deal efficiently with a large class.

Syllabus

The course syllabus is an effective way to set ground rules and state policies regarding attendance, missed exams, academic integrity, and classroom disruptions. Some instructors distribute the majority of handouts they will use in the class with the syllabus to reduce the amount of class time used to "shuffle paper". A thorough syllabus can also help keep students who miss class up-to-date. To help the freshmen and sophomores enrolled in large classes become more responsible for their own learning, several instructors include on their syllabi hints on "how to succeed in this class". Judith Torney-Purtaand others at UMCP also include a list of expectations for themselves as instructors. Clearly, any policies stated in a syllabus need to be enforced and enforced consistently. For more information, see CTE's Resource Packet on Syllabus Construction

Attendance

Taking attendance in a large class can be time-consuming. However, class attendance has been shown to be a predictor of class learning, so it is worth encouraging students to attend. In the syllabus, you can outline the number of absences permitted without penalty and the consequences of absences beyond that number. The official University policy on attendance is printed in the Undergraduate Catalog chapter on "Registration, Academic Requirements, and Regulations". Bonnie Kendall of Indiana University in Bloomington takes attendance with entry or exit tickets. These tickets are questions or comments on the course material written by students before they enter or leave the classroom. In this way, attendance can be taken simply by tallying the slips with the further benefit that the instructor receives student feedback regarding the course.

Class Disruptions

At the university level, the majority of classroom disruptions involve activities such as talking or reading a newspaper. One way to combat such disruptions is to establish a policy that emphasizes common courtesy. If the disruption was unforeseen or happens even though a policy has been set, it is important to respond to it either by approaching the disruptive student(s) after class or by indicating (verbally or non-verbally) that the behavior is not acceptable. Situations should not be permitted to escalate. Sometimes simply talking toward the disruptive students can quiet a discussion or return a newspaper to a book bag. Another common classroom disruption is caused by students who begin to pack up their belongings just before the end of class. One way to combat this behavior is to end your lectures in unpredictable ways so students will be less likely to guess when you are about to finish. Another is to indicate politely to students that class is not yet over and ask that they refrain from packing up early. One UMCP professor found he was able to hold students' attention until the end of class by using the last minutes of class to give a quick preview of the next lecture.

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