Student and Teacher Opinions on Class Sizes and Types of Assessment in Higher Education LSP Classrooms: a Pilot Study

Abstract

Large classes are a reality and an ongoing issue in higher education in most countries. Theoretically, a large class is any class where teachers face challenges in teaching, assessing students’ performance and managing the class due to the number of students. The paper will focus on assessment in large classes, looking at some familiar methods, as well as researching the possibilities of innovative technologies as useful assessment tools, self-evaluation using new technologies, and collaborative learning. The selection of the right methods for assessment is essential for meeting students’ needs without compromising the very integrity of the entire process; hence, a questionnaire will be utilized to investigate the opinions of teachers and students on their assessment process. The results will offer some new assessment possibilities that may compensate for the lack of adequate student-teacher contact and interaction usually present in small classes, but not always in large classes.