Examination of Active Learning Methods in Large Lecture Classes

This study was undertaken in order to gain new insights into active learning in large lecture classes. We assumed the ideal situation to be active learning in "student-managed classes," and in order to approach this ideal, a number of trials based on peer review were conducted. As a result of these trials in large classes, it was found that report-based peer review among students was sufficiently effective for active learning. On the other hand, we found that if we tried to evolve to peer evaluation, we had to be careful to do this properly. Based on these results, we also implemented an experimental student-managed class. From this, we found that the quality of class management was sufficient, but as with peer review, we found that without appropriate action on the peer evaluation by the students, the results were unacceptable. Further research is needed with regard to this in the future.