Big classes versus small classes:  Large university classes cause students to suffer

Different class sizes hold appeal for different students

Some professors argue that smaller university classes are preferable to larger ones because they are more personal and students can receive more individual attention. Janessa Nayler

If you’re a first-year student at the University of Manitoba, you’ve probably been struck by the enormity of many of your classes. But if you’re a first-year student at the University of Winnipeg, you’ve likely noticed your class sizes differ little from high school.

Whether post-secondary anonymity attracts or repels you, the number of students that surrounds you affects your educational experience.

“I feel like I’m just a number at the U of M sometimes,” said third-year psychology major Siera Ens. “The larger the class, the more intimidating it can be. That is part of the reason why I’ll be switching to U of W next year.”

These sentiments are common according to University of Manitoba education professor Rodney Clifton, who is an advocate for smaller first-year classes.

“Smaller classes are preferable because they are more personal, and students can receive more individual attention,” said Clifton. “The problem with a large classroom is that there is so much variation in capability, where does the instructor set their expectations?”

According to the U of M’s website, most first-year classes have less than 50 students. By the fourth year, the majority of classes have fewer than 50 students again, and only one per cent of classes have more than 100 students.

Clifton believes that a complete reversal of post-secondary mentality is needed when it comes to both admittance and what happens to students once they enter an institution.

“We put first-year students into these huge classrooms. Why do we put students who are least capable in this environment in the worst possible learning environment, and the students who are most capable in the best possible learning experience?” Clifton said.

“A better system would be to move away from the block grant system, where the university receives funding in one shot and tries to fill first-year classrooms with as many students as possible, to one where they are rewarded for graduating as many students as possible. Each student would receive a set amount of funding, and then the university would get a bonus upon graduation.”

However, some U of M students find the lack of attention and anonymity appealing.

The average classroom size at U of W is 27.5 students, a fact that frustrated former U of W student and recent U of M transfer Molly Cahalin.

“At U of W, I felt like I was still in high school. I felt like instead of being able to seek out attention on my own if I needed it, it was forced on me. Now that I’m at U of M, I enjoy my independence more. It suits my personality better.”

Published in Volume 64, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 15, 2009)

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