What is the ideal class size in an online, for-credit course? Fifteen, twenty students? How about forty? A group of researchers at Stanford University set out to answer this question by conducting a study with over 100,000 students across 102 undergraduate and graduate courses. They presented their findings at the American Economic Association (AEA) Conference this month (2015) in “Virtually Large: The Effects of Class Size in Online College Courses”. They also shared their research at the (APPAM) conference in November and at the CESifo conference on the Economics of Education (Bettinger et al., 2014). This study takes a unique perspective on the topic of optimal class size for online, for-credit classes in higher education—it incorporates principles from a model in microeconomics—economies of scale. The researchers examined educational productivity by measuring class size effects on students outcomes and persistence.
Why Class Size Matters
There’s a need for educators and administrators to address the size of online classes. Class size impacts course design strategies, institution policies, instructor compensation models, workload assignments and best practice guidelines. Below I share findings from (the scant) research on online class sizes. I highlight the findings from three perspectives: 1) economic perspective, 2) faculty, and 3) student perspective. Given the different approaches of the studies their limitations and varied results, it’s constructive to consider the studies collectively; consider the numerous variables that affect student outcomes in addition to class size when planning and strategizing for online education programs.
Consensus?
Conclusions about the effects of online class size vary; depend upon the perspective of researchers and the research question. But there is consensus that there are numerous variables that affect student learning (online and face-to-face) besides class size. Variables that include: peer effects, students technical skills and education level (undergraduate vs. graduate student), instructors experience with the technology, workload, and the technology itself (Gilbert,1995; Lazear, 1999; Orellana, 2006).
Three Perspectives on Online Class Size
1) Economist Perspective of Online Class Size
There is significant literature on the economics of class size and student achievement for K-12, though research on cost-benefit analysis of class size for face-to-face and online in higher education is scant. There are a handful of studies examining effects of class size in F2F settings including “The Effects of Class Size on Student Achievement in Higher Education” (Kokkelenberg et al, 2005). Fewer papers exist on effects of class size from an economics perspective for online, for-credit courses which makes “Virtually Large: The Effects of Class Size in Online College Courses” an important study. It’s yet to be published though I found a preliminary copy on the Web (posted via CESifo conference).
The study used data from a research partnership between DeVry Education group and Stanford University (also reported in the New York Times in 2014) over a two-year period that tracked over 100,000 students from DeVry University and focused online, for-credit college-level courses. Variables analyzed in the study: student GPA history, class size, course discipline, and student persistence.
The primary research question of the study: does increasing online class sizes affect student GPA, credits received in the next term, and persistence in the next term?
The study concluded that for online classes that range from 16 to 40 students, increasing class size as much as 25 percent does not significantly affect student grades, credits earned in the next session, or enrollment in the next session. The preliminary paper discussed the implications for the results, suggesting impact on cost savings for institutions with an online program with large numbers of students and classes. For instance, establishing class size limits of 40 students as opposed to 30 students could have positive financial implications through instructor compensation. The researchers acknowledged limitations of the study, which was the sample of relatively small online classes.
2) Instructors Perspective of Online Class Size
“Class Size and Interaction in Online Courses” by Anymir Orellana (2006) approaches the research from the perspective of higher education instructors. Purpose of the study—to determine faculty perception of optimal class to achieve high levels of interaction appropriate for a given course as measured by a rubric, RAIQ (Rubric for Assessment Interactive Qualities in Distance Courses (Orellana, 2006; Roblyer & Wiencke, 2004). The paper shares results on instructors perceptions about optimal class size needed for student interactivity and includes robust discussion about other factors that influence the instructors perceptions.
Findings indicate that even though the actual class sizes of the studied online courses were not related to their actual interactive qualities and that most respondents perceived their online courses as moderately and highly interactive, respondents still believed that they needed smaller classes to achieve higher interactive levels. (Orellana, 2006, pg. 236).
Orellana discusses instructor perceptions at length and cites research from various viewpoints. He brings up the issue of instructor workload as a factor influencing instructors perspective on the ideal class size. He cites studies that indicate online teaching requires a significant investment of time (more than F2F) and thus instructors stress the necessity of smaller classes. He quotes from one paper the idea of the “more-work myth” claimed among distance educators as a reason for small class sizes (Orellana, pg. 232). Orellana also cites studies that state small classes aren’t always appropriate for courses that emphasize collaborative and group learning (pgs. 231-232). Valid points. Factors influencing the more-time-needed viewpoint of instructors could be due in part to extra hours required for course development and the learning time required for teaching in a new mode.
Orellana stresses the need for institutions to address the workload issue for online course instructors. I’ll add to that—I suggest that class size is not the primary issue, but that the support and professional development by their institutions that provide the skills to online instructors is. Orellana also suggests readers regard recommendations about class size from consortia with caution (pg. 246).
3) Students Perspective of Online Class Size
How do students perceive class size in online classes?
A thorough analysis of the effects of class size in online learning is not complete until the students perspective is considered. The study “Class Size as Related to the Use of Technology, Educational Practices, and Outcomes in Web-Based Nursing Courses” analyzed data from undergraduate (n = 265) and graduate (n = 863) students enrolled in online nursing courses (Burruss et al, 2009). Variables in this study included active participation and learning, student-to-student interaction, faculty-to-student interaction and the level of connectedness students experienced when engaging in learning activities. The most significant finding of was the different perceptions between undergraduate and graduate students on the effect class size had on fostering social presence. For instance, undergraduate students found medium size classes promoted more social presence than did small classes, yet graduate students found less social presence in medium size classes compared to small classes. Despite the students perceptions, undergraduate and graduate rated their online course experience as satisfactory—irrespective of class size.
The differences in perceptions between undergraduate and graduate students is worth examining further. This phenomenon indicates the learning needs of the student groups vary and instructors should adjust their teaching strategies accordingly as an alternative to adjusting class sizes.
Closing Thoughts
As the literature demonstrates, there are several factors to consider when determining guidelines for class sizes in online, for-credit courses. Doing so requires an analysis and consideration of a variety of perspectives and variables, many which are unique to an institution’s program. Online instruction and learning size is complex and significant. There is no formula; no optimal class size that will guarantee meaningful learning.
References:
- Artz, J. (2011). Online courses and optimal class size: A complex formula. ERIC.
- Bettinger, E., Doss, C., Loeb, S. & Taylor, S. Virtually large: The effects of class size in online college courses. (January 3, 2015). In the Program of the Allied Social Sciences Program, American Economic Association. Boston, MA
- Bettinger, E., Doss, C., Loeb, S. & Taylor, S. Panel Paper: Virtually large: The effects of class size in online college courses. (November, 2014). In The 2014 APPAM Fall Research Conference. Albuquerque, NM
- Bettinger, E., Doss, C., Loeb, S. & Taylor, S. The effects of class size in online college courses: Experimental evidence. (September, 2014). CESifo Area Conference on the Economics of Education 2014. Munich, Germany.
- Burruss, N.M., Billings, D., Browning, V., Skiba, D. & Connors, H.R. (2009). Class size as related to the use of technology, educational practices, and outcomes in web-based nursing courses. Journal of Professional Nursing , Volume 25(1), pp. 33 – 41
- DeVry Education Group and Stanford University present joint research presentation: Boiling big data into action. (2014, November 18). New York Times.
- Kokkelenberg, E. C., Dillon, M., & Christy, S. (2005). The effects of class sizes on student achievement in higher education. In Cornell University working paper.
- Orellana, A. (2006). Class size and interaction in online courses. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, Volume 7(3), pp. 229–248
Online Learning Insights 
Have you seen anything on class size for online courses? I’ve wondered about whether there is a *minimum* class size for liquidity around forums and such. If you’re taking a MOOC with 100 people it seems empty compared to one with 1000 or 10K. Seen any research on that?
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I attended that session at the American Economic Association (AEA) Conference, and while the research was very strong, I made the point at the conference that on my view, one can design an effective online course for any class size. The research was basically showing that increasing the cap for a class designed for about 30 students to low/mid 30s did not lead to different results. But I would argue that after a certain threshold, maybe 40 or 50 students, that 30-student design would not be adequate. And I would further argue that one could re-design the course for 50 or 100 or 200 students, and get the same learning outcomes that the 30-student design achieved. But a word of caution: If the motive for increasing class size is to position online learning as the cheap alternative to on-ground classes, then it is unlikely that sufficient funding will be extended to online learning programs to enable the sort of larger classes that I mentioned. Economies of scale only happen if adequate funding is in place at the beginning.
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Jim,
I agree with your line of thinking that “increasing class size to position online learning as the cheap alternative to on-ground classes” is not desirable to meet any institution objectives, including the motive of achieving economies of scale. Though I respectfully disagree with your point that one could re-design a course to accommodate 50, 100 or more students to achieve the same learning outcomes as the 30-student design. To deliver quality education in an online, for-credit college course, instructor involvement is essential to the course. The instructor’s role is to promote and support student learning, encourage critical thinking by giving feedback to individual students on assignments and within discussion forums, holding virtual seminar discussions via video conferencing platform, answer student questions, etc. One critical dimension to student learning for undergraduate and graduate students is the feedback from instructors and their prompting to think deeper and apply course concepts. In online classes, effective instructors monitor student involvement and identify students struggling in the class, and intervene as necessary.
When courses approach the 100 students mark, it crosses over into the MOOC format, Massive Open Online Course. This format has proven to be ineffective for undergraduate students. They tried it a San Jose University and it failed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/18/citing-disappointing-student-outcomes-san-jose-state-pauses-work-udacity
That being said the MOOC format is viewed as effective for achieving different learning outcomes. As professional development for working professionals in a specific skill set for instance. Though the MOOC format is still struggling to find its place in education.
Thanks for your comment Jim. I respect your perspective and am glad you shared your viewpoint after hearing the presentation at the conference.
Debbie
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Debbie, I want to second, from experience, your point about the instructor’s role and its effect on class size. As you state, “To deliver quality education in an online, for-credit college course, instructor involvement is essential to the course.” My courses are designed for a high level of not only student-student but also instructor-student interaction. The online platform provides excellent opportunity to not only monitor student work but also to engage with students to encourage, challenge, and critique. The visibility of student work in the online platform, as in, for example, a threaded discussion, gives the instructor a potentially unending stream of “teachable moments” in which he or she can observe the thinking of both individuals and groups of students, and respond accordingly. Needless to say, taking advantage of such moments is time-consuming and requires considerable energy. My courses run from 20 to 25 students, and with as many 80 or more students in four online courses, I am challenged to interact effectively. Larger class size would make it impossible.
What this boils down to is, as you know, the pedagogical question: what is the effect of this pedagogy, i.e., high instructor-student interaction, on student learning outcomes? I would certainly be interested in what the current research shows. I have some familiarity with principles of online course design such as those espoused by Quality Matters and the Sloan Consortium, and it is interesting to me that although interactive learning is one of the prominent principles, the form interaction takes is not specified. In the QM rubric, for example, interactive learning is required, but this can take the form of student-student or instructor-student interaction or a combination thereof.
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