Strategies for Cultivating Belonging in Online Learning Spaces

Abstract

This chapter outlines a rationale and best practices for humanizing online learning by implementing strategies for cultivating belonging. These strategies are rooted in the community of inquiry framework and the importance of intentionally cultivating students' social presence in order to enhance opportunities for cognitive presence and deep critical thinking. Culturally responsive teaching practices also guide these strategies for designing and facilitating inclusive online learning spaces where belonging is intentionally centered in the instructor's teaching presence. The strategies in this chapter include ways to design and develop courses with belonging in mind from the start as well as strategies for maintaining a sense of belonging and community throughout a course after it has been initially established.