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Reflecting on Engagement in Large Classes
Friday, 3/6/2026
For the next three weeks our Teaching Minutes will address teaching strategies that help students stay engaged in large classes. We'll share a few options for small adjustments you can make to your teaching.
Take a Break & Reflect
With spring break starting Monday, this is a great time to check in on how your students are experiencing your classes. Large classes come with their own challenges: with so many students, it can be harder to connect personally, keep track of participation, or notice who might be struggling quietly. Even with your best efforts, the scale can make students feel anonymous. Taking a moment now to reflect on engagement can help you spot patterns, discover opportunities for small adjustments, and find ways to make interactions feel more personal and meaningful.
Spring break is a natural opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan – both for your students and for yourself. Instructor burnout is real and taking time to recharge matters. Noticing how students are doing can guide engagement strategies for the second half of the semester, while giving yourself space to rest supports your own wellbeing.
And when you come back from break, here are a few strategies to consider implementing. Remember to start small - you don’t need complex or high-stake approaches. Try one idea and see how it goes!
Use small group discussion
Brief small group discussions during class encourage students to process and reflect on course material. Ask students to assume roles (note-taker, reporter, discussion leader) to keep everyone engaged. Circulate throughout the room and be available to ask clarifying questions, give brief feedback, or highlight strong ideas.
Ask open-ended written questions
If you are already using classroom technology like iClickers, ask students to respond to writing prompts like, “What is one challenge you’re facing in this course right now?” or “What’s one thing that has helped your learning this term?” iClickers' word clouds feature allows you to show aggregated results to the whole class and you'll gain some insights to their experiences.
Gamify your classes
Introduce low-stakes competitions, quizzes, or collaborative challenges that encourage students to work together. For example, you might have teams solve a problem within a time limit or contribute ideas to a shared project. These activities can energize the class, foster a sense of community, and give you natural opportunities to circulate around the classroom, offer feedback, and connect briefly with students one-on-one.
Show care and offer support
Take a moment to acknowledge the intensity of the semester in class or through a Brightspace Announcement. Remind students that it’s okay to seek help and point them towards campus resources, such as the Center for Health and Wellbeing, or the Center for Academic Success. Gestures like this can help students feel seen and supported, especially in large classes where one-on-one interactions are limited.
Dig Deeper
Upcoming CTL Workshops on iClickers & Engagement
Getting to Know Your Students in Large Classes (March 27, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
We've collected a variety of interesting resources on this topic:
- Cornell University - Engaging Students in Large Courses
- University of Chicago - Introduction to Gamification - Part 1
- UVM CTL Teaching Minute: UDL Engagement - Interests & Identities
Share Your Strategies
If you teach a large-size class, we’d love to hear what’s working for you! Send us your favorite engagement strategies or quick tips, and we may highlight them in future Teaching Minutes or share quotes with colleagues so everyone can benefit from your ideas.
Schedule a consultation with us to keep the conversation going!
Happy teaching!
Center for Teaching & Learning
www.uvm.edu/ctl
ctl@uvm.edu