Building a Sense of Belonging in an Asynchronous Online Course: Lessons Learned from Student Voices

Abstract

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.