Belongingness:The Keystone of Student Development in Evolving Educational Environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/f3v60w51Keywords:
Belongingness, Student Well-being, Community and ConnectionAbstract
Based on the literature review and analysis of survey responses from Babson College students’ changing sense of belongingness before, after, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates the influence of belongingness on students in educational environments. The findings reveal that, despite the barriers posed by remote learning, there are effective approaches to mitigate these impacts, such as shorter lectures, facilitated discussions, and maintaining a strong online presence. Moreover, the personal narratives from students during this unprecedented time offer perspectives on the varying degrees of belongingness experienced across different educational stages and modalities. This research underscores the nature of belongingness and its critical role in fostering an inclusive, supportive academic environment, highlighting the need for innovative teaching strategies to preserve student engagement and belonging. In the end, this paper calls for further research into pedagogical practices that can enhance a sense of belonging in both physical and virtual classrooms, which is always evolving.
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