Optimal Student Ratio
I have taught online for almost seven years, and I believe the optimal online student-instructor ratio is 15-20 students. Less is great, too, of course. When we have a range of students, though, this allows for more stimulating dialogue and discussion. As well, the ratio is small enough to allow for enough one on one interaction.
I've taught online for 5 years and find a smaller class (12-15) a perfect size for 'project' based courses compared to 'discussion' focused courses. In order to give proper constructive feedback on individual original works like a drawing/composition more time is needed to enter personal notes/evaluations in the grade book. With classes of 20 or more the instructor often has to pull all-nighters during weekly grading if the best feedback for success is expected.
All-nighters every week during a session does not produce an optimal performance instructor.
I am a fairly new instructor to the online environment. Our courses are taught in a virtual environment with classes meeting twice a week for 2 hours a week. I have found that having 15-18 students is an optimal number. This allows time during the 'class' for individual participation as well as lecture.
As instructors, we also spend several hours a week via e-mail and phone conversations with our students replying to questions and building a rapport that assists in our retention efforts.
We also provide feedback on assignments and that takes time but is necessary and very valuable to our students.
Naomi, thank you for your discussion topic. I think that you can have too few students too. I do not like very small classes because more work is required of the professor in regards to keeping the topics moving. Which is fine, but you lose the engagement of all other student's thoughts and opinions to stir conversation.
J
I particularly appreciate the Optimal Student Ratio topic for discussion. This session the online class that I’m teaching has 40 students, which I think it too many to manage effectively. I’ve been teaching online for 5 years and the ideal learning scenario comes from a class size of 20-25 students. As an instructor I work hard to provide quality responses and suggestions to students on projects and discussions. A class this size is daunting and the discussion board threads tend to be repetitive and overall not as engaging.
Helena,
I agree the ratios should be closer to 20 students for most classes. If you expect to have regular interaction with your students and provide the personal attention to ensure they feel connected with the course, instructor and other students then most instructors would agree that the number is much closer to 20 students.
Herbert Brown III
