CS Student Perspectives: A Qualitative Look at Student-Centered Classroom Practices in Small and Large Classrooms

Student-centered practices are practices that focus on providing engaging and equitable experiences to students in our classroom. These strategies have grown in popularity over the past decade, but the general impact of these practices on student perceptions remains unclear. Building on our prior work, this study examines four such practices: late-submission, resubmission, review sessions, and meeting students across two introductory computing courses with contrasting class sizes at different institutions. We identify qualitative themes from open-ended survey responses that reveal insights about how students experience these practices, with emphasis on differences between the two courses. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to create supportive and effective learning environments in STEM, providing actionable insights for educators aiming to improve engagement, academic confidence, and overall success.