Scaling New Horizons in Higher Education: Empowering Educators and Reimagining the Student Experience in Large Classes

This paper explores the significance of large class teaching in the context of escalating university enrolments and the growing diversity of student populations. It emphasizes the pressing need to transform large classes into active and collaborative learning environments and away from didactive delivery of information. While educational technology plays a role in this transformation, it should be noted that it is not the sole solution. The paper highlights the challenges faced by educators in maintaining quality teaching in large classes and proposes networked teaching as a viable approach to address these challenges. It also explores the personal and professional benefits of large class teaching, along with strategies for constant improvement. The Connected Learning at Scale (CLaS) project is introduced as a comprehensive case study, discussing its co-design challenges, impact demonstration, and the importance of sharing best practices. It concludes by urging educators to involve additional stakeholders in the design process to enhance the student experience and foster deeper learning.