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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 ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä 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.

For more information, in the EDUCAUSE Review.

Female student using a mobile phone in a large lecture class