Queen Margaret University
MSc in Professional and Higher Education
This case study is from a completely online postgraduate programme for teaching professionals who may be based anywhere in the world. Key to creating a sense of belonging on this programme has been the high levels of interactivity that are built into all parts of the programme, beginning with an induction module that all students complete prior to enrolment. Students work in pairs and in groups to complete learning tasks as part of all of their modules, all of which can contribute to portfolio summative assessments.
Contributors: Dr Susi Peacock and Dr Lindesay Irvine
4. Sense of belonging
The key aspects to creating a sense of belonging are:
- Philosophy social constructivist online community-based – collegiate supportive
- Attitude of tutors- friendly and supportive
- Activities to be relevant for learners in their professional roles
- Regular synchronous sessions (programme/module) plus tools for learners to have their own meetings without tutors
- Group work (formal and informal)
- Extensive use of discussions
- Heavy use of Personal Academic Tutor
- Extensive use of audio and video feedback for tutor communications, short introductions and formative and summative assessment
- Online student representation
- Librarian involvement in a/synchronous sessions
- Variety of modes for communications with tutors
- Ensuring reading materials are accessible