Tackling Distraction in Large Lecture Courses

Our advice for instructors and students is informed by findings from a survey conducted by the Academic Technology Design Team (ATDT) and ASSETT.

Key findings include:

• The average class size at CU Boulder is 97 students (median = 51 students).
• During their freshman and sophomore years, more than half of an average student's courses are offered in a large lecture format. By their fourth year, that figure drops to about one-fourth (24%).
• Nearly half of the respondents (48%) indicated that they dislike large lecture courses.
• Among the students surveyed, 57 percent indicated that they are distracted at least half the time in their large lecture courses.
• The top two causes of distraction stem from the behavior of other students in the classroom: 74 percent of students reported being distracted by other students talking and 70 percent by other students' screens/devices.

What to do? Review these materials for insights, ideas, and strategies for getting the most from large lecture courses.

• Infographic: The Student Experience in Large Lectures at CU Boulder
• Large Lecture Tips for Students
• Large Lecture Tips for Instructors
• Full Report: Large Lecture Discovery Work

For more information, read about the project in the EDUCAUSE Review.