A sense of belonging is a significant factor in college students’ satisfaction, persistence, and ultimate graduation from an institution of higher education. This fact is equally important to traditional and virtual classrooms. Given the increase and popularity of online learning, it is imperative that approaches that foster a sense of belonging are included in the strategic planning process to improve student retention among online students. In this pilot study, 33 online undergraduate students’ perceptions of a sense of belonging were examined using a modified version of the Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale. Students submitted their responses to the scale anonymously via a Qualtrics survey. Results suggest students experience a sense of belonging in the virtual classroom and attribute their perceptions to the instructor’s teaching strategies and a positive online environment.
References
[1]
Booker, K. (2007). Likeness, Comfort, and Tolerance: Examining African American Adolescents’ Sense of Belonging. The Urban Review, 39, 301-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-007-0053-y
[2]
Booker, K. (2018). The High Tide Raises All Ships: Middle Grades Teachers’ Perspectives on School Belonging in Early Adolescence. RMLE Online, 41, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19404476.2018.1505402
[3]
Booker, K. (2021). Rules without Relationships Lead to Rebellion: Secondary Teachers and School Belonging. School Community Journal,31, 65-84.
Deci, E. L., Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. C., & Ryan, M. (1991). Motivation and Education: The Self-Determination Perspective. Educational Psychologist, 26, 325-346. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.1991.9653137
[6]
Goodenow, C. (1993). Classroom Belonging among Early Adolescent Students. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 13, 21-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431693013001002
[7]
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage Publications, Inc.
[8]
Hagerty, B. M., Williams, R. A., Coyne, J.C., & Early, M. R. (1996). Sense of Belonging and Indicators of Social and Psychological Functioning. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 10, 235-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9417(96)80029-X
[9]
Hanson, M. (2024). Cost of Online Education vs. Traditional Education. https://educationdata.org/cost-of-online-education-vs-traditional-education
[10]
Holt, M. (2021). Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Online Learning. Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning News, Northern Illinois University, 1-2. https://citl.news.niu.edu/2021/10/11/sense-of-belonging-online-learning/
[11]
James, S., Swan, K., & Daston, C. (2016). Retention, Progression and the Taking of Online Courses. Online Learning, 20, 75-96. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v20i2.780
[12]
Laux, D., Luse, A., & Mennecke, B. E. (2016). Collaboration, Connectedness, and Community: An Examination of the Factors Influencing Student Persistence in Virtual Communities. Computers in Human Behavior, 57, 452-464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.12.046
[13]
Marchant, G. J., Paulson, S. E., & Rothlisberg, B. A. (2001). Relations of Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Family and School Contexts with Academic Achievement. Psychology in the Schools, 38, 505-519. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.1039
[14]
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
[15]
Matthews, G. (2020). Matthews, Gerald. In Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 2786-2795). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_2226
[16]
Mills, C., & Ballantyne, J. (2010). Pre-Service Teachers’ Dispositions towards Diversity: Arguing for a Developmental Hierarchy of Change. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26, 447-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2009.05.012
[17]
Muljana, P. S., & Luo, T. (2019). Factors Contributing to Student Retention in Online Learning and Recommended Strategies for Improvement: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 18, 19-57. https://doi.org/10.28945/4182
[18]
Murdock, T. B. (1999). The Social Context of Risk: Status and Motivational Predictors of Alienation in Middle School. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.91.1.62
[19]
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2024) Fast Facts: Distant Learning. https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=80
[20]
Northeastern CATLTR (2024). Building a Sense of Belonging and Community into an Online Course. https://learning.northeastern.edu/building-a-sense-of-belonging-and-community-into-an-online-course/#:~:text=Related%20strategies%20for%20course%20facilitation,our%E2%80%9D%20to%20emphasize%20class%20community
[21]
Peacock, S., & Cowan, J. (2019). Promoting a Sense of Belonging in Online Learning Communities of Inquiry. Online Learning, 23, 67-81. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v23i2.1488
[22]
Thomas, L., Herbert, J., & Teras, M. (2014). A Sense of Belonging to Enhance Participation, Success and Retention in Online Programs. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 5, 69-80. https://doi.org/10.5204/intjfyhe.v5i2.233
[23]
Townsend, K. C., & McWhirter, B. T. (2005). Connectedness: A Review of the Literature with Implications for Counseling, Assessment, and Research. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83, 191-201. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00596.x
[24]
Turner, P., & Zepeda, E. M. (2021). Welcoming Ain’t Belonging: A Case Study that Explores How Two-Year Predominantly White Colleges Can Foster an Environment of Validation and Mattering for Men of Color. Higher Education Studies, 11, 127-138. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v11n2p127
[25]
Wentzel, K. R. (1998). Student Motivation in Middle School: The Role of Perceived Pedagogical Caring. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89, 411-419. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.89.3.411
