In an in-person learning environment, I prefer small classes to

large ones

Thousands of high school graduates enter university with bright eyes and high expectations of
learning, and doing something meaningful with their lives. Meeting new people, making plans for
accommodations, and, especially, attending classes can be daunting at times. Classes can be
especially intimidating for most students because of the large number of students, new
teachers, or concerns about passing the class. University classes can be large, with over 100
students, or small, with 20-30 students. While some students prefer large classes to small
classes, I believe that small classes are better for learning because students are used to small
class sizes in high school, adjusting to large classes can be a challenge. Being in a small class
encourages students to be active and alert in class, as well as to freely ask questions, fostering
a sense of community among the students. Students must participate in class in order to get the
most out of their education. However, since COVID, some students have grown accustomed to
a more relaxed learning environment, so they prefer larger classes over small ones.

We are aware that COVID hindered the normal flow of the classroom and everything had to be
shifted online to accommodate the new situation. Students attended classes from the comfort of
their homes, without having anyone to look over them. This produced a laid back learning
environment; students were able to attend classes and complete the assignments as they
pleased. This kind of an environment is reflected in large classes and thus, some students
prefer large classes over small ones. It is understandable that students are used to such an
environment and are having trouble transitioning back to the normal routine. While being in a
relaxed environment may be appealing, students are more likely to miss classes and be
distracted, thus reducing the effectiveness of the class. They are able to blend in without being
under direct supervision of the instructor. Some argue that this behaviour is acceptable if
students are completing their work on their own; however, it affects long term retention. For
instance, even though my Biology instructor provides us with recorded lectures, I still go to class
because it helps me to remember the material better, and because I understand it better in
class.

According to research, being in a smaller class allows students to perform better on exams and
understand the material better (Glass & Smith,1979). It forces students to be present and pay
attention in class, as opposed to being in a large class where the absence of any student is
difficult to detect. For example, in my Biology class, there are approximately 100 students who
attend every day. When I went to give my midterm, I discovered that there are over 200
students in that class. This implies that students are missing class on a daily basis. Moreover,
being part of a large class can also be intimidating, making it difficult to ask questions or get
answers; in contrast, being in a small class allows students to develop stronger one-on-one
relationships with their teachers and peers. Furthermore, teachers have more time to devote to
each individual in a smaller class. This makes it easier to address individual concerns and
obtain assistance with specific topics. In my Korean class, for example, there are about 25
students on a regular basis, and I know all of them. If I need help, I can ask either my peers or
my teacher. Like this one time, I didn’t know how to type a word in Korean, my friend noticed
this and helped me correct it. This fosters a sense of community in the classroom. While being
in a large class, teachers may not have time to address individual doubts, or help each
individual which can be difficult because everyone has different levels of understanding and
sometimes require more help than others.

Overall, I believe that small classes are better for long term retention, better networking with
your teachers and peers, and it provides an opportunity to get help, if needed. Large classes
provide a laid back learning attitude, which can cause the student to slack off. Therefore, class
size should be considered because it can seriously impact the learning outcome of our time at
university.

References

Gene V. Glass and Mary Lee Smith. “Meta-Analysis of Research on Class Size and
Achievement.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 1(1): 2–16 (1979).