In Search of Belonging Online: Achieving Equity through Transformative Professional Development

Abstract

Online classes hold the potential to expand college access to Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous, and other students of color who must be supported to diversify the STEM workforce. Research shows that fostering belonging is key to the academic success of students from minoritized groups. However, online classes often lack interpersonal interactions and are often left out of research about the positive impacts of belonging. This paper summarizes an equity-focused STEM grant project that produced an openly-shared online professional development program, the Humanizing Online STEM Academy. Through the Academy, STEM faculty are introduced to a model of humanized online teaching that centers belonging as a way to address equity gaps. Participant survey responses present opportunities for future research about belonging in online courses.

Social presence as means to humanizing online classroom

“…(2019) have demonstrated that social presence in online classrooms has led to teacher–learner relationship which is believed as an important factor of effective learning. As mentioned by Pacansky-Brock et al . (2020), both social presence and teacher–student relationship are key elements in humanizing online learning.…”

“…This consideration shows how much these pre-service teachers feel concerned about their students. Adjusting the language of instruction to the students' ability is considered as an attempt to establish humanizing online teaching (Pacansky-Brock et al ., 2020).…”

“…Humanizing online teaching and learning emphasizes on how teachers humanize the students by having commitments to value their relationships with the students where the students feel welcome and feel that their voices are heard (Mehta and Aguilera, 2020). Supportive learning environment that welcomes the students committed to inclusivity and diversity is a key in humanizing online teaching and learning (Pacansky-Brock et al ., 2020). In humanizing online teaching, the main focus is on the students.…”

“…In humanizing online teaching, the main focus is on the students. Pacansky-Brock et al . (2020) mention that to be able to establish humanizing online teaching, teachers should have more empathy toward students, provide adjustable teaching and syllabus and provide a secure and judgment-free online learning environment for all students.…”

“…This model has been implemented in previous online learning practices during the pandemic. Pacansky-Brock et al . (2020) emphasized the need for teachers to be socially present, culturally responsive and acknowledged universal learning design.…”