Cultivating and sustaining a Positive Online Learning Community:Affirming all Learners is Key

Breakout Room A

This paper discusses the significance of developing and nurturing a classroom community within asynchronous/online learning networks. It examines ways in which an online learning environment can provide validation of diverse learners, foster a sense of belonging, and affirm and make transparent, the challenges among diverse learners who are physically separated from each other. The authors of this paper highlight the following factors as they relate to this topic of interest: social connections, celebrating cultural identity, expanding worldviews, respectful interactions, feeling emotionally supported, time zone challenges and group work, technology challenges, and fostering empathy.