As our Arc colleagues emphasized, the first few weeks (including the week before classes) of a first-year student’s experience of the university curricular environment can make a significant difference to their sense of relatedness and belonging, and thus academic success and wellbeing. Below are some examples of mostly first-year courses (eg see the last strategy mentioned by Ben Kelly), but the emphasis in this section goes beyond first year, because it is important to engage all students early, in any course. See other sections for additional relevant examples.
Building peer and student-instructor relatedness early within Indigenous Studies courses
General and specific strategies. Contact Ben Kelly
Building peer and student-instructor relatedness, and program belonging
Curricular and co-curricular approaches in the first term of university. Contact Professor Adrienne Torda
Creating peer community belongingness prior to assessable team-work
References
- Felten, P. (2022). Is ‘mattering’ a more helpful way of thinking about student belonging at university? https://twitter.com/pfeltenNC/status/1486444790963134469
- Lizzio, A. (2017). Student lifecycle and the 5 senses of success. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfqWyDah_ybAP1QaiE-199pykCTdYcwD1
- Redmond, P., Heffernan, A., Abawi, L., Brown, A., & Henderson, R. (2018). An Online Engagement Framework for Higher Education. Online Learning, 22(1).
- Reid, A., Rowley, J. & Bennett, D. (2019). From expert student to novice professional: higher education and sense of self in the creative and performing arts. Music Education Research, 21(4), 399-413.
- Ryan, R. M.,& Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.55.1.68.
- Sheldon, K. M. , & Houser-Marko, L. (2001). Self-concordance, goal attainment, and the pursuit of happiness: Can there be an upward spiral? Journal of Personality & Social Psychology,80, 152-165.