Building Community and Belonging in the Classroom

The link between belonging and learning

Students' affective experiences of the classroom have a significant impact on their sense of cognitive belonging and overall performance:

When we feel comfortable and connected, we have the cognitive bandwidth to learn and to challenge ourselves.

When we feel isolated or threatened, our cognitive resources are drained, and our energy is spent on maintenance.

These assertions are proven by cognitive theory and behavioral and brain science research, showing that an environment of warmth and openness in the classroom:

• Increases participation, motivation, and perseverance
• Improves cognitive function (attention, information processing, memory and recall)
• Enhances academic performance and confidence
• Fosters constructive engagement and perspective taking

Strategies to Foster Cognitive Belonging

We may not be able to address all the factors impacting students’ experiences of community; however, we can make a difference in our classrooms. Here are some "small teaching" strategies that establish a foundation for belonging in your classroom.

Acknowledge students' assets

Create opportunities for students to think about and share with you and with one another what they do well and how they may uniquely contribute to the course. Ask your students:

• When it comes to school, what are you really good at?
• Do you have any specific experiences or aspects of your identity that might offer an interesting perspective on course material?
• What strengths and talents do you have that might help you succeed in this course?

Provide high structure

Recognize that your students come to your class from a range of backgrounds, with some having more academic privileges than others. Don't take for granted that they will understand everything you ask them to do. Providing more structure tends to help all students, without harming those who don't need it.

Examples of high structure include:

• Providing instructions in multiple forms--in writing, on a slide, and verbally.
• Assigning roles for group work and rotating roles throughout the semester.
• Scaffolding complex assignments into multiples steps.
• Providing students with discussion questions in advance so that they can prepare responses for in-class interactions.

Show purpose

Explain how the course overall, as well as each individual assignment you ask students to complete, contributes to and builds skills for their future goals and careers.

Include statements such as these with assignment instructions:

• “This paper will help you develop your skills for using evidence to strengthen an argument.”
• “These presentations will prepare you to make effective sales pitches to organizations or groups.”

Normalize help-seeking behaviors

Communicate that asking for help with basic needs, with accessibility, with learning--is a strength. Helping students know how to seek and find help is one of the best ways to build agency and, by extension, participate in a broader community.

• Provide information about campus resources as part of the course syllabus.
• Tell stories about your own experiences of struggling and asking for help.
• Open pathways for help options--such as low-stakes credit for a brief visit to office hours.

Emphasize growth

Help students recognize that they have the tools they need to do well in their courses. When students do fall short of what they want to achieve, suggest some concrete tools for improvement. Here are some growth strategies:

• Value the process by building low stakes assignments and quizzes.
• Treat errors as learning opportunities by providing constructive feedback, and then--
• Allow revisions.
• Normalize effort by confirming that the content is challenging and takes time and practice to learn.
• Learn more about growth mindset interventions.

Adapted from Small Teaching, Second Edition, Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning (2021) by James M. Lang.

What Your VT Colleagues Are Doing

Check out these micro-videos featuring VT faculty sharing their ideas for building community and belonging in the classroom.