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[lotsoquestions]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some useful tips on managing an on-line class with more than twenty people in it.  I'm having trouble keeping straight who's who and it just feels chaotic somehow.  Any and all suggestions welcome

[magistra]

Have them do a sample post at the beginning of the semester where they have to give three facts about themselves, such as where they live.  This means they'll have to test the system (always a good thing) and you get some basic personal info on them, as will everyone else.  Make it worth 5 points of something so they'll do it.

Some students will quickly make themselves known to you; some you'll never, ever hear from.  It's the nature of the beast, and really not so different from in-class, just a bit more pronounced.  Don't worry about it -- it's the least of your worries.

Are you doing discussion boards?  These are a great way to get people talking.  Throw in one the first week that's mostly opinion-based, and then you'll really start to know them (but read this board for advice on how to manage discussions.)

How many students do you have?  I'd be more worried about the time this class is going to take than anything else.  If it's only 25, though, it shouldn't be a problem.

[onilne_adjunct]

How big is big?  My classes are all larger than 20 (but, thankfully, smaller than 40).  I believe LarryC operates with about 150.

What type of class is it?  Survey, upper level, grad?  This will determine how you handle things. 

Do you need participation, quizzes, weekly assignments, etc.  How do you plan on running your class?

The answer to your question revolves around the answers to these questions.

First, though, get everyone to post a bio (including yourself).  Respond back to their posted bios with questions designed to draw them into conversation.

Have class discussion - it'll eat up time, but it's quite useful.  Grade papers and return them, with a personal note (you can cut and paste the note, but by returning papers and putting their name at the top of an e-mail you'll get a handle on the names.

[finallyfullprof]

Our classes are capped at 25, so I use an intro thread to help me keep people straight.  If you have Blackboard Vista, you can also use the Groups tool to put them into smaller units. I found that grouping in face-to-face classes also helped me get to know students better.