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  1. Teaching
  2. Teaching practice

Educational Settings

As a lecturer, you probably teach in both large group and small group contexts. For some academics a large class might be 40 students, for others it might be 400. The definition of "large" and "small" classes can be quite variable depending on: the discipline, the nature of the class (e.g. lecture or lab work), the level of the course (e.g. undergraduate or postgraduate) and the perceptions of lecturers and students.

You teach within a context of wider changes in higher education, including: increasing internationalisation, larger numbers of students and increasing numbers of students from non-traditional academic backgrounds. (See also Teaching Diverse Groups)

The implications of these changes generally are that as class sizes have increased at UNSW while staff-to-student ratios have decreased. As a consequence, you might have to organise your teaching in ways that are more compatible with the numbers of students involved, to:

  • avoid additional stress
  • ensure that you are able to achieve your objectives
  • create for your students a more satisfying and effective learning experience.

Educational settings

The implications of large and small group contexts are discussed in the following pages:

  • Small group teaching
  • Large group teaching

Some teaching strategies discussed in these pages can be applied equally well in large and small group teaching. The benefits, challenges and appropriate strategies for the most common teaching contexts in universities are discussed in these pages:

  • Tutorials
  • Lectures
  • Laboratory or practical session
  • Studio teaching

See also

  • Teaching online
  • New staff
  • Teaching for learning
  • Assessment
  • Educational settings
    • Lectures
    • Tutorials
    • Large group
    • Small group
    • Laboratory
    • Studio

Events & news

QILT Symposium and NSW Higher Education Summit
Never waste a good crisis: Why higher education needs a unified approach to curriculum transformation in the AI era
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UNSW respectfully acknowledges the Bidjigal, Biripi, Dharug, Gadigal, Gumbaynggirr, Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri peoples, whose unceded lands we are privileged to learn, teach and work on our UNSW campuses. We honour the Elders of these Nations, as well as broader Nations that we walk together with, past and present, and acknowledge their ongoing connection to culture, community and Country.
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Page last updated: Wednesday 12 February 2025