The session discusses a study that evaluated the relationship between class size and students' successfulness in three subject areas: Social Sciences, Sciences, and Humanities. The findings from a diverse student body sample and eighty-five online courses revealed that students in smaller classes are less successful than those in larger classes. Additionally, classes of medium size of 22-24 students in Social Sciences and Humanities demonstrated higher success rates than larger classes. This means that instructors in medium size classes have an opportunity to manage discussion with the students more efficiently, create a welcoming and friendly environment, and have a better chance to monitor the rigor of the assignments; further exploration is needed in the Sciences subject area however.

Anna holds a Master of Business Administration degree and is working at the Vice President for Academic Affairs office at the University of West Georgia. Her main responsibilities are University accreditation, assessment, and data analysis. Her interests are Institutional Effectiveness, Distance, and Higher Education.

 

Tanacha holds a Master of Science degree in Information Design and Communication and is working on her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at Georgia State University. She has consulted with small to medium-sized organizations on visual communication, training methods, processes and information architecture. Her interests are Distance and Higher Education. Tanacha has served as an adjunct instructor and is skilled in Higher Education processes and flexible in her training and instructional design style.