1. Does Size Matter?:
A deeper look at tutoring session size and student perception on learning
Christian Kroll, Dr. Linde Murray
Background
 Courses currently available for tutoring are:
Accounting 210, 211
Biology 101, 103, 151, 153, 202, 204, 221, 325
Chemistry 105, 106, 108, 112, 114, 326, 328
Economics 201, 202
Microbiology 231
Nursing 323
Physics 111, 113, 211
• Little research is conducted on student
perception of learning based on group size
influences the learning outcomes of students
• Currently, the Wintrode Tutoring Program
offers tutoring in groups of two to four students
• Purpose: To collect student feedback about the
size of the group, reactions to the environment, and
Student perceptions of their learning
Survey
Major: Tutoring subject attended:
Number of Students in the session: 1 2 3 4 5 6+
Was the size of the tutoring session
(Circle one): Very Large Somewhat large Perfect
size Somewhat small Smaller than preferred
Did you feel that the tutoring environment was
positive or negative towards your learning? (Tables,
seating arrangement, Room loudness, etc.) Why?
Did the number of students in the session positively
or negatively affect your learning
during the session? If so, why?
What could be improved based on
your experience in the session?
Results
• 153 total surveys were completed
between November 16, 2015 and
November 20, 2015.
• During that time, 324 students
participated in tutoring.
• There were 402 total visits to the
Wintrode Tutoring Program. In that
time, each of the colleges on campus
had students that completed the
survey.
• The largest population of students was
nursing students (34% )
• There were a couple surveys that
relayed that some sessions were
overfilled, however the majority of the
surveys found that three students was
a preferred number.
• The seating arrangements were found
to have a positive impact on student
learning .
• Background noise helps a majority of
students learn and allows them to
speak up more in tutoring.
Conclusion
• Feedback about group size and learning
environment indicate noise level and large
group sizes play a role in student
perception of their learning.
• During busier tutoring times, more will be
done to make sure noise and space is
controlled.
• Future research will use electronic survey.
Major of Students Involved in Survey Number of Students Participated
Nursing 52
Pharmacy 36
Biology/Pre-Professional 18
Exercise Science 6
Dietetics 4
Animal Science 3
Medical Lab Science 2
Athletic Training 2
Wildlife and Fisheries 2
Undecided 2
Human Development and Family Studies 2
Agriculture Education 1
Civil Engineering 1
Psychology 1
Biochemistry 1
Agriculture Communications 1
Agriculture Engineering 1
Did Not Answer 19
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Wintrode Student
Success Center for help and support on our project, and
all of the students that participated in the survey and
all of the tutors, that distributed the survey to students.
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IRB-1509012-EXM
Subject Percentage of Raw
Attended Students Number
Physiology 29.0 45
Human Anatomy 19.4 30
Chemistry 112 11.1 17
Biology 151 9.7 15
Organic Chemistry 6.9 12
Unknown 4.2 6
Microbiology 4.2 6
Pathophysiology 4.2 6
Biology 101 4.2 6
Economics 2.8 4
Physics 2.8 4
Chemistry 108 1.0 2