Class Size and Retention rates.
Are there any studies on class size and retention numbers? I feel that concentrating on the weaker students in a 30 student class to keep numbers up causes others to feel left out. Would decreasing the class size have a positive effect on this? How do you "keep the balance"?
I have not seen any facts or figures on class size vs retention, but a smaller class would definetly benefit from the instructors ability to deliver the material on a more personal basis. Some students have a tendency to get lost in the crowd.
I find that when I teach a class of 26 to 30 studentsthat I am spead very thin. I am not able to give the attention that the lost students need and still aid the other students when they have questions as well. I feel that if we are going to teach a class that size that two instuctors in that class during lab time would benifit the student experiance and help retention.
Does the second person in the lab have to be an instructor? Could upperclass assistants do the same thing?
I believe that class size absolutely effects retention. I instruct a dental assisting class at a technical school. Most of our time needs to be spent on hands-on instruction. With a large class size, students become frustrated when I am not available for one-on-one assistance. There are students who excel and are ready to move on and then there are some who need much more time. Either way I go someone is feeling cheated. I offer tutoring, but students tend not to come because they feel I am rushing in class and it is not fair that they have to come to school after hours for something they should have time for in class. Some days I feel like I cannot win!
