This presentation was present preliminary findings from a collaborative investigation undertaken by the research fellow and members of the Department of Language Studies at SUA. This research sought to investigate how instructors are coping with large class sizes (of up to 400 students), taking Communication Skills courses as a case study. The group collaborated to undertake a qualitative study comprised of peer observations, survey, focus group and semi-structured interview data. Content analysis reveals that teachers are using many varied strategies with teacher-dominated lecturing and use of technology as the most common; however, interactive lecturing and accessible technology are utilized to foster participation and attend to different students’ needs. Furthermore, instructors often turn to community as a support strategy, drawing on community among teachers and students to foster effective learning. Examples of strategies for teaching large classes will be shared. As these are preliminary findings, attendees will be invited to comment and share further insight.
