Whole-Class and Small-Group Speaking Skills: How Does Total Class Size Matter?
Skylar Davidson, PhD, Chattanooga State Community College
Suggested Citation
Davidson, S. (2026). Whole-class and small-group speaking skills: How does total class size matter? InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching, 21, Article 1. doi: 10.46504/21202601da
Speaking skills are critical in a rapidly changing work landscape that requires collaboration and problem solving. However, class size (small or large) can influence students’ feelings and behaviors when practicing speaking in class, with this study finding that total class size affects students’ outcomes not only during student presentations to the whole class but also during students’ small group interactions. Students in a small class reported feeling more positive about their experiences within the class as a whole, experiencing greater interest in coursework and exhibiting greater attention.