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Elements of a Sense of Belonging

Elements that contribute to a sense of belonging for students in the classroom

Results from article:

Freeman, T. M., Anderman, L. H., & Jensen, J. M. (2007). Sense of belonging in college freshmen at the classroom and campus levels. The Journal of Experimental Education, 75(3), 203-220.

Principle Components Analysis of Students' Perceptions of Learning and Teaching
Item General Sense of Belonging Teacher Support Peer Acceptance
Instructor warmth and openness
This scale measured students’ perceptions of their instructors’ underlying teaching approaches and demeanors.
The instructor gives good examples of concepts. .79
Rate the instructor's general teaching effectiveness for you. .76
The instructor is friendly. .73 .39
The instructor established a climate in the class that is conducive to learning .71 .31
The instructor is enthusiastic. .70
The instructor encourages the class to ask questions and share viewpoints. .69 .34
The instructor seems knowledgeable in many areas. .68
The instructor is helpful when students are confused. .67
The instructor displays openness to other viewpoints and ideas. .60 .39 .33
The instructor shares personal experiences and opinions with students that are relevant to course content. .59 .34
Instructor encouragement of student participation
This scale measured students’ perceptions that their instructors encouraged class members to participate in class discussions during class.
Students discuss one another's ideas. .86
Students feel free to disagree with the instructor. .31 .76
Students volunteer their own opinions. .31 .75
The instructor tells students when they have done a particularly good job. .56 .36
The instructor knows students' names. .55
Instructor organization
This scale measured students’ perceptions of their instructors’ preparedness for class activities.
The instructor follows an outline closely. .68
Tests and papers are graded and returned promptly. .68
The instructor keeps students informed of their progress. .31 .64
The instructor plans class activities in detail. .31  .55
Note: Items were answered on a 5-point scale from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always/a great deal) Only factors loading > .30 are included.

Keywords:
belonging, classroom
Doc ID:
129140
Owned by:
Timmo D. in Instructional Resources
Created:
2023-06-16
Updated:
2024-08-23
Sites:
Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring
Resources on fostering and designing inclusive learning environments and content.