Learning Connections Conference 2024

Belonging is widely recognised as an essential part of the student learning experience, and it has increasingly come to be prioritised by higher education institutions. The term frequently appears in EDIA statements, strategic plans, intercultural dialogues, and so forth—it is not just a buzzword. While it can be viewed through different lenses, at its core Belonging can be defined as a subjective feeling of being welcome, respected, included, and valued, regardless of who you are. As post-secondary educators, we acknowledge how significant this can be for student success in our courses, programs, and post-graduation. However, we do not always know how best to put this important phenomenon into practice. This session aims to facilitate conversations about how we as educators embody Belonging in a variety of environments and interactions on campus. The participants will be given a working definition of Belonging, the application of which they will first brainstorm through a space-based activity. Insights from that discussion will then be applied to case studies to reinforce the feasibility of strategies, innovative approaches, and adaptability. The space-based activity and case studies will address potential loci at varying hierarchical levels, such as the classroom, office hours, virtual spaces, the program / curriculum, and the strategic plan. This is not only to demonstrate how pervasive Belonging is but also to underscore how fostering it is a holistic effort. As a group, we will discuss the possibilities presented by the teams and think through ways in which we can implement the suggestions.