TEACHING TIPS for LARGE CLASSES

Many of you are likely teaching large classes this semester, but teaching resources may not address the logistics of managing large groups of students at one time. What can you do when you have large classes to promote quality instruction?

• Learn as many names as possible: Encourage students to use name tents. Ask students to lead off with their names when contributing to class. Use the ID photo roster feature in Canvas to match student faces with names.
• Use accessibility equipment: You can't see students with hearing loss or auditory processing disorders. If you are in a room with accessibility equipment such as microphones, please use the microphone. It will feel awkward to begin with and become natural with practice and make your voice both amplified and more clear.
• Consider incentivizing attendance at office hours with small amounts of extra credit or other rewards to help students realize that they do have instructor support, even in large classes.
• Use small group and pair share activities to break up class time and encourage students to interact with each other. Use interactive tools - such as a One Drive document that students can edit - to have groups report in their results and observations so that you can hear from more students. Use activities such as Poll Everywhere and Mentimeter to check in with students and for realtime in-class formative assessment on difficult points. Active learning techniques are still both doable and essential, even in large classes.

More thoughts and tips on managing large classes can be found here from UM Boston and the article Tips for Teaching Large Classes from the University of Texas; you can build community and connection in classes or any size. In addition, the UTLC team is always available for consultation.

UTLC LITERARY CIRCLES

Learn more about the UTLC Spring Literary Circles for book selections and registration information.

COURSE ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLISTS AND SUPPORT

In Summer 2024, the US Department of Justice issued new guidance clarifying expectations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These clarifications mark a significant and necessary shift in how universities will support individuals with disabilities. The update requires that all campus digital content (public facing websites, digital course materials, digital campus resources – including campus trainings) meet the WCAG 2.1 (level A and level AA) standards for accessibility by spring 2026. 

As you begin instruction for Spring 2025, consider how these accessibility standards will impact your course development. UNCG has several campus resources that you can utilize now to make the transition easier, with more tools and resources on the way.

Accessibility Checklists outlining the minimum expectations for meeting the new standards.

Document Accessibility Checklist

Multimedia Accessibility Checklist

Presentation Accessibility Checklist

UDOIT Cloud is a Canvas scanning tool that will scan your course and provide you with quick solutions that ensure your course is compliance. The tool can scan Canvas pages and course files.

Accessibility.uncg.edu is a comprehensive accessibility website that offers tools, resources, and quick guides to creating accessible digital content for campus.

FACULTY ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additional training opportunities are available at workshops.uncg.edu.

Ongoing Opportunities

• Vector Solutions Learning Opportunities | Online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics, including search committee practices and accessibility strategies.

• Indigenous Safe Space Project on Canvas | This student-led initiative helps to prepare the campus community with basic skills for supporting our Indigenous and Native students.

• Level Up: Mental Health Education & Training | Help foster a culture of care by engaging in trainings for suicide prevention, Mental Health First Aid, Spartan well-being, and more.
• UNCG Libraries Webinars | Research and Application Webinar Series (Spring 2024 recordings) | Zotero Webinar Series (recordings)
• New to Teaching | Access this Canvas site to learn about how students learn, preparing for class, grading, office hours, engagement, active learning, and more.
• Safe and Trans Zone Training on Canvas | Enroll in this self-paced online course to complete Safe Zone 1.0, 2.0, and Trans Zone if you cannot attend an in-person workshop.
• Web Accessibility 101 | This asynchronous, self-paced course focuses on the fundamentals of making online content accessible.

TEACHING EVALUATION PILOT

UNCG is administering a pilot of a new teaching evaluation system. The pilot and the current system (Class Climate) will run in parallel for two years; when the Class Climate contract expires, administration will make a decision about which or neither system to keep.

Anthology uses research validated common questions, along with offering units the chance to add custom questions.  It’s mobile friendly, which may increase response rates. You can see more information here: Evaluation of Teaching Pilot Project.pptx

If you are interested in participating in the Summer or Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Cohorts, please click the button below to fill out the interest form. 

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