Effects of Large Class on Teaching-Learning Process as Perceived by Lecturers and Students of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo

Abstract

The study focused on the effects of large class size on teaching-learning process in tertiary institution as perceived by lecturers and students of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. A convenience sampling technique was employed to select a total of 297 respondents - two hundred and fifty-six (256) students and forty-one (41) lecturers. The research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey. The instrument employed was titled “Effects of Large Class Questionnaire” - an adapted version of “Implications of Large Class Size Questionnaire” developed by Ayeni and Olowe (2016). The face and content validity of the instrument were ascertained and the reliability coefficient of 0.87 was established. Frequency distribution, mean and t-test were employed for data analysis. A research question and three hypotheses were generated to guide the study. The findings revealed that the effects of large class include lower rate of assimilation, lack of motivation, high rate of failure, reduced attention, unruly behaviours, increased stress, negative effects on teachers’ health and well-being among others. It was recommended that the school authority should support the Management Information System (MIS) unit of the institution to make the school community ICT-inclined for both the lecturers and students so as to checkmate the negative effects of large class, efficient public address system should be made available in all lecture theatres and Counsellors should organize seminars on stress management for lecturers to assist them acquire various coping skills for managing stress, etc.