Welcome to the Innovative Teaching Showcase, a series publication created by WWU's Center for Instructional Innovation, featuring the work of several WWU instructors. In this Planning for Large Classes issue, we honor the work of several instructors, Jason Kanov, David Shull, and Larry Symons. Here, we highlight some important strategies instructors can use to manage larger class sizes, and how to take advantage of inspiring hundreds of students. For more on the theme, see Planning for Large Classes.
“Teaching large classes well is the most difficult and challenging task in academia and offers the fewest tangible rewards. Knowing, however, that you have a real, positive, and inspiring effect on hundreds or thousands of young people will more than compensate for the liabilities. Do it right, and you will have former students all over the world who will be grateful to you for the wisdom you gave them.”Frank Heppner, Teaching the Large College Class, 2007