From connection to community: Building learning environments for high quality motivation and student belonging

From connection to community: Building learning environments for high quality motivation and student belonging

Ms Rachel Colla and Lara Mossman
Melbourne Graduate School of Education

The impact of student engagement and connection to their institution, particularly in an online environment, has long been a pressing issue for universities These issues have been exacerbated by COVID-19 with social distancing, a rapid shift to online learning, and increased feelings of stress, anxiety and social isolation among students and staff. This unfolding environment has also afforded some important opportunities to ‘break down the walls of the classroom’ and create an online learning community that facilitates student connection. Drawing on the literature of a Community of Inquiry (CoI) approach (Bektashi, 2018) presentation draws on the insights developed through a large-scale FlexAP project, as well as the wisdom of participants attending the session.

This Zoom presentation was part of the Melbourne CSHE Teaching and Learning Conference 2021 held on Wednesday 2 June 2021.