The dominant method in our traditional classrooms is still the broadcast lecture; one of the most cited metrics in our public debates is class size. But there’s a disconnect between those things. If a teacher’s main job is lecturing, what does it really matter how many students are in the room? Whatever the class size, how customized can instruction be when kids sit passively, taking notes, and the great majority of the teacher’s time and energy is devoted to lesson plans, grading papers, and paperwork?
