A Small Class is the Best
Learning Environment
That’s why both Oxford and Cambridge Universities teach in small
groups.
Research over and over again has shown that one of the easiest ways to
improve the overall performance of students is to reduce the student
population of each class.
Benefits of Small classes:
- Give each individual student greater access to the teacher.
- Every student has the opportunity to ask questions and to go
over any topics.
- Learning and understanding of the subject matter is greatly
improved.
- Opportunities for students to work and develop their skills in small groups
is inherent in smaller classes.
- There are fewer
distractions in the class.
Research Studies around the world prove it
The Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) studies, the Student
Achievement Grade in Education Program (SAGE) studies and California's
CSR Research Consortium studies have all concluded that, independent
of all other variables, the reduction of class sizes has positive
effects on student performance.
The positive results of smaller classes in controlled studies were
unequivocal and consistent. Learning and understanding of the subject
matter was greatly improved as every student has the opportunity to ask
questions and to go over any topics.
Data from four nations, the United States, Hong Kong, England and
Switzerland presented at the 2008 meeting of the American
Educational Research Association and analyzed by researchers from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, reinforces the conclusion that smaller
classes are advantageous, independent of teacher quality or teaching
methods.