Introduction

The rise in student enrollment and educator shortages in nursing programs have led to an increase in class sizes, including in traditional online courses. Although evidence suggests that larger class sizes do not inherently compromise the quality of teaching, it is crucial for faculty to adopt strategies that maintain high learning standards when managing large enrollments.

Defining Large Classes

What constitutes a “large” class can vary based on several factors:

• Student Experience: Beginners versus advanced students, or graduate versus undergraduate.
• Content Complexity: Simple versus complex content, or content applied in familiar versus novel contexts.
• Faculty Experience: Novice versus expert instructors.
• Course Design: Whether the course is being taught for the first time, is in draft form, or has been thoroughly tested and revised.

Research indicates that online classes with up to 20 students can be effectively managed by a single faculty member (Colwell & Jenks, 2006). Other studies suggest that class sizes of 12 to 25 students yield similar student perceptions of quality (Bristol & Kyarsgaard, 2012; Lahaie, 2007b). Some institutions set maximum enrollments to manage faculty workload effectively.

Strategies for Teaching Large Online Classes

When managing large online classes, faculty should focus on:

• Course Design: Ensure the course is structured to promote maximum learning.
• Educational Practices: Utilize practices that foster higher-order learning.
• Discussion Management: Implement smaller discussion groups when enrollment exceeds 15 students. This approach enhances student interaction and allows for more focused faculty feedback.

Efficient Grading and Feedback

• Streamlined Assignments: Use fewer, well-designed assignments that encourage higher-order thinking.
• Feedback Opportunities: Create mechanisms for peer and self-feedback.
• Sampling: Employ sampling strategies for grading to manage workload effectively.
• Grading Rubrics: Implement clear rubrics to simplify grading and clarify expectations for students.

Role of Teaching Assistants

Teaching assistants (TAs) can support large classes by:

• Grading assignments
• Facilitating discussions
• Providing feedback
• Assisting with technology issues

TAs can also serve as a training ground for future educators.

Benefits of Online Teaching

Despite the increased time demands, online teaching offers flexibility. Faculty can balance teaching with other professional responsibilities, such as traveling and attending conferences. With proper planning, online teaching can be integrated into faculty schedules conveniently.

Managing Adjunct Faculty for Clinical and Online Teaching

The Role of Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty play a vital role in nursing education, covering clinical, didactic, and online instruction. They offer flexibility in program expansion and contraction and can bring diverse expertise to multiple programs.

Challenges Faced by Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty often encounter several challenges:

• Limited exposure to experienced educators
• Potential gaps in teaching acumen
• Low motivation due to factors such as low salaries and job insecurity

Supporting Adjunct Faculty

To address these challenges, nursing programs can:

• Provide pedagogical training as part of nursing education.
• Offer in-service education for clinical preceptors.
• Develop infrastructure to support adjunct faculty, including mentorship programs.

Mentoring and Training

The Online Adjunct Faculty Mentoring Model suggests pairing adjunct faculty with full-time faculty mentors. This approach ensures new educators understand their roles and responsibilities. Recruitment should focus on candidates with strong online communication skills, and new hires should complete asynchronous learning modules and engage in web-conferencing sessions with their mentors.

Conclusion

Effective management of large enrollments and adjunct faculty requires strategic planning, support systems, and ongoing professional development. By addressing these needs, nursing education programs can maintain high standards and support the success of both students and faculty.