Impacts of Large Classes on Student’s Performance: A Case Study from the University of Guyana

Abstract

As more persons seek higher education, class sizes continue to increase. The impact of an increase in class size has sparked much debate among policymakers and the education community. While there is no agreed definition of what size constitutes a large class, it is a common view that it exceeds an average of 100 students. Many believe that larger classes will negatively affect the student's performance and lead to a decrease in interaction. This may deter the teaching and learning process resulting in decreased performance. Our study was conducted to determine biology students’ perception of the impact of large classes on their performance at the University of Guyana. Data was collected through an online survey and distributed to 1 st -4 th year students registered in the biology program. Nine-mark (grade) sheets from the department of biology with varying numbers of students were analyzed. We found that students believed that class size does have an impact on their performance. They indicated that their performance is poor in larger classes due to less interaction, limited feedback, and more disruptions. An analysis of courses in the biology department showed higher failure rates in larger classes, however, it cannot be concluded that this is a result of the class size. It is recommended that professional development training be provided to instructors on modes of teaching large classes. Keywords: class size, large class, performance, interaction DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-13-04 Publication date: May 31 st 2022