Massification at universities of higher learning in South Africa

Abstract

This essay engages with the phenomenon of large classes as it is increasingly becoming commonplace at South African institutions of Higher Learning. There has been a plethora of literature on the teaching of large classes, however, few studies offer a comprehensive engagement with the challenges presented by large classes; innovative strategies that can be used to teach such classes and the different learning theories that can be utilised whilst drawing on one’s own experience and context. This paper is presented in the following sections: the introduction which gives an overview of the current situation in South African Higher Education institutions in relation to large classes; a background to the study; a comprehensive literature review on teaching and learning in large classes; the learning theory that underpins the teaching and learning in an English Language Education module at a rural-based university and the final section that proffers the conclusions presented by the paper.

Keywords: Massification; large classes; strategies and learning theories.