Key study findings about the most effective classes emerged from two sources: the findings of the study’s interviewers and the findings of a student named Anne Clark, who investigated and interviewed students about their most effective classes as part of her undergraduate honors thesis in psychology (Making the Most of College, page 47).

When Anne Clark asked students which small classes were particularly effective, many students mentioned a technique used by their professors: organizing classes around a controversy. Students described classes in which the professor created opposing arguments and built homework assignments pitting two groups of students against each other. Students reported that structured disagreement brought out the best ideas from both sides, increasing student engagement.