1. Promotes hands-on learning
Smaller class sizes make it easier for teachers to conduct more hands-on lessons, both in the classroom and on-site at the headquarters of local businesses. Group projects give students the opportunity to share their ideas, develop their communication skills, and learn how to problem solve. During on-site visits, students learn how to apply the theories they have learned in class to real-world business cases.
At EU Business School, we believe in interactive learning. We actively encourage class discussions, and presentations account for a percentage of a student’s grade. In addition to what goes on in the classroom, we also organize regular company visits to national and international organizations, such as Tesla, World Trade Organization, Amazon, and Credit Suisse.
2. No students get left behind
In smaller classes, individual students are more visible, and instructors have more time to devote to every one of them. In this way, teachers will be able to gauge the ability and speed of each student and tailor their teaching to make sure the whole class keeps up and remains engaged.
Smaller classes can also encourage the quieter students to speak up and share their opinions during classroom discussions.
3. More opportunities for one-on-on interactions
As we have already seen, with fewer students in the class, instructors have more time to engage with learners on an individual basis. This helps create a better rapport between student and teacher, which is beneficial in class because it can lead to more openness from the students and more involvement from the teacher.
Being on good terms with your tutor also has its advantages for the future. You will find it easier to obtain personalized references from your professors for job and postgraduate study applications.
4. Increased engagement from students
Small, interactive classes give students the opportunity to:
- Ask questions as they arise and receive answers from the teacher straightaway; ask follow-up questions if there’s still something that they don’t understand.
- Share their thoughts and ideas and get feedback on them from their peers and the class instructor.
- Practice using technical vocabulary in the correct context.
- Contribute to the learning experience of their peers.
This leads to improved understanding and increased engagement from the whole class.
5. Allows for discussion-based teaching
While lectures can be delivered to huge lecture halls full of students, it’s more difficult to have an interactive discussion with 300+ participants. This is where smaller class sizes really come into their own. Lectures are a great way of giving a subject overview and imparting facts and theories. But the discussion format is just as valuable, as it gives students the opportunity to share their opinions on topics such as current business trends and hear their classmates’ responses.
What is more, discussion-based classes lead to better engagement between students and their peers, students and their instructor, and students and the learning materials, as they are actively participating with all three.
At EU, we believe in a combination of lecture and discussion-based teaching. Our methods center around the dynamic case-study method, which encourages students to apply the theory they have learned in class to real-world business scenarios. We frequently invite guest speakers who are leaders in their fields to come and share their insights on current industry trends with our students.
6. Leads to better results
Your degree classification will matter when you are applying for jobs or for further study, so it’s important to keep your grades up throughout your time at university. Results from a study carried out by Cornell University show that students in smaller classes perform better academically than students who are enrolled in larger classes.
7. Classes become a community
Smaller classes give students the opportunity to really get to know their peers on an individual basis. This helps foster a highly collaborative classroom environment, as students become more comfortable with one another and feel confident enough to share their ideas. It may also spark lively debates over some topics!
In an international business school like EU, this also allows students to interact with peers from different countries and cultures and gain a global perspective on important international business topics. Our student body represents 100+ nationalities, and our each of our students speak an average of three languages.
8. Encourages student participation
Smaller classes mean fewer students, and therefore, more opportunities for those students to share their thoughts in class. Small class sizes also encourage all members of the class to participate during class discussions, because they allow students to get to know one another. Speaking to a smaller audience may help shy students to feel more comfortable putting their ideas forward.
9. Teachers can provide individualized feedback
With smaller classes, teachers have more time and know their students well enough to be able to provide constructive, personalized feedback on presentations, essay plans, etc. This means that each student comes away from the class with a comprehensive understanding of the subject and knowing what they must do to improve their grade.
What is more, when it comes to the final paper, students are more likely to receive their feedback and grades in a timely manner, as instructors have fewer essays to mark.
10. Greater flexibility
As a result of the engagement with students, tutors with small classes are able to tailor their modules each year to the specific needs of every new set of students.
At EU Business School, we understand the many advantages of small classes for business students. This is why we keep class sizes small – to increase interaction between students, their instructors, and their peers, and to give them the best possible chance for academic success. To find out more about the EU experience, explore our website, or contact us directly today.
