What is it about?

This paper looks at how class size affects online college courses. Research suggests the ideal size is usually 12 to 30 students, though this depends on the subject and goals. The authors recommend that schools balance teaching quality with regulations and consider teacher workload when setting class limits.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This paper is important because it helps university administrators balance the financial pressure to increase class sizes with the need to maintain educational quality and prevent faculty burnout. It provides administrators with data-backed benchmarks to ensure online programs remain effective and compliant with federal funding regulations. Ultimately, it guides strategic planning by defining realistic limits that support student learning rather than simply prioritizing higher enrollment numbers.

Perspectives

Writing this paper with Barbara was a good experience, as she is a great co-author with years of experience and knowledge in the field of online learning and instructional design. This paper was a bit of a passion project for me as I have battled the issue of randomly increasing enrollments for years.

Professor of Instructional Technology Charles B. Hodges
Georgia Southern University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Balancing Act: Optimal Class Size and Course Design in Online Higher Education, Quarterly Review of Distance Education, September 2024, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/qrde-09-2024-0001.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page