What is a recommended student-instructor ratio in an instructional team setting?

In an instructional team setting, a student-instructor ratio of 4:1 is ideal for several reasons. This ratio allows for a balance between individual attention and group engagement. With four students to one instructor, the instructor can effectively monitor each student's progress, provide personalized feedback, and cater to different learning paces and styles.

Additionally, this ratio ensures that students can benefit from peer interactions and collaborative learning without feeling overlooked. Research in educational settings supports the idea that lower student-to-teacher ratios result in improved student performance and understanding. In larger groups, instructors may struggle to give adequate attention to each student, which can hinder the learning experience.

Other ratios, such as 2:1 or even 5:1, while they might seem beneficial in certain contexts, may either overwhelm the instructor with too few students (in the case of 2:1) or dilute the personal attention too much (with 5:1), making 4:1 the most effective balance for a productive learning environment.