Key Findings on Class Size
| Author(s) | Year | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Orellana | 2006 | A class size of 18.9 was perceived as optimal to better achieve the course’s actual level of interaction, and a class size of 15.9 was perceived as optimal to achieve the highest level of interaction. |
| Tomei | 2006 | Optimum class size is 12 for an online class |
| Nagel and Kotzé | 2010 | Good class size is between 12 and 30 |
| Taft, Perkowski, & Martin | 2011 | Authors suggested ranges of course sizes associated with higher or lower levels of teaching intensity |
| Lowenthal, Nyland, Jung, Dunlap, & Kepka | 2019 | “The results of our inquiry reveal that faculty in this sample believe online courses with smaller enrollments are better for student learning and faculty satisfaction.. .in general, faculty perceive design, delivery, communication, and assessment as the major challenges in implementing an effective high-enrollment online course.” |
| Tomei & Nelson | 2019 | “The ideal class size for online teaching expanded the range from 9 students (doctoral courses) to 12 students (undergraduate) to 13 students (graduate) (p. 10).” |
| Taft, Kesten, &El-Banna | 2019 | Class size should be determined by educational goals. Larger classes (40+ students) work well for basic knowledge transfer, while smaller classes (15 or fewer) are better for developing advanced thinking and skills. |
| Orellana | 2006 | A class size of 18.9 was perceived as optimal to better achieve the course’s actual level of interaction, and a class size of 15.9 was perceived as optimal to achieve the highest level of interaction. |
| Tomei | 2006 | Optimum class size is 12 for an online class |
| Nagel and Kotzé | 2010 | Good class size is between 12 and 30 |
| Taft, Perkowski, & Martin | 2011 | Authors suggested ranges of course sizes associated with higher or lower levels of teaching intensity |
| Lowenthal, Nyland, Jung, Dunlap, & Kepka | 2019 | “The results of our inquiry reveal that faculty in this sample believe online courses with smaller enrollments are better for student learning and faculty satisfaction.. .in general, faculty perceive design, delivery, communication, and assessment as the major challenges in implementing an effective high-enrollment online course.” |
| Tomei & Nelson | 2019 | “The ideal class size for online teaching expanded the range from 9 students (doctoral courses) to 12 students (undergraduate) to 13 students (graduate) (p. 10).” |
| Taft, Kesten, &El-Banna | 2019 | Class size should be determined by educational goals. Larger classes (40+ students) work well for basic knowledge transfer, while smaller classes (15 or fewer) are better for developing advanced thinking and skills. |