The Benefits of Belonging: Students’ Perceptions of Their Online Learning Experiences (DiGiacomo et al., 2023)

This US-based study of the social organization of online learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that students’ sense of belonging and inclusion varied by race, gender, and whether instructional modality was synchronous or asynchronous. Opportunities for discussion, interaction with peers, and feeling that one’s racial or ethnic group was represented in the curriculum were important factors that supported a sense of belonging. The paper asserts that addressing issues of equity is crucial in fostering a sense of belonging in postsecondary online contexts.

DiGiacomo, D. K., Usher, E. L., Han, J., Abney, J. M., Cole, A. E., & Patterson, J. T. (2023). The benefits of belonging: Students’ perceptions of their online learning experiences. Distance Education, 44(1), 24–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2022.2155615