This guide to teaching large classes was first sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. As part of the campus initiative on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), this project focused on a persistent problem area for academic programs in many disciplines--the challenge of providing high quality educational experiences to undergraduates in large lecture classes. The CQI team which was assembled to recommend solutions to problems surrounding large classes investigated all sides of the issue. Their hard work produced a number of recommendations, one of which was the creation and distribution of this guide--a resource which could help teachers of large classes improve their work in the challenging environment of the large lecture class. Many thanks to the members of this wonderful CQI Large Classes Team:

Herman Ammon, Chemistry
William Sedlacek, Counseling Center
Jordan Goodman, Physics
Eugene Schnell, CQI
James Henretta, History
Brenda Testa, Planning Office
Maynard Mack Jr., Undergraduate Studies
Kelly VanHouten, Chemistry
Jonathan Morstein, Government and Politics
Lois Vietri, Government and Politics

Please use the "Guide" as just that, a set of ideas and suggestions to use as you think best in approaching your particular large class and the specific goals for that learning experience. We know that each discipline and each class present unique teaching and learning opportunities--and difficulties. These are general suggestions, but we hope they will be useful as ideas to adapt to your particular context and needs. It's a first version, and we truly want your feedback and suggestions for improvement. The last page of the guide is feedback form; please complete this form and send us your reactions. We will use them as we produce future versions.

Thanks go to Provost Dan Fallon and to Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies Bob Hampton for their continuing leadership and support of this project. The Guide is one component of a multiple-level response to the need to improve large classes, and teaching.

Back to Table of Contents