The recent decreasing enrollment trends have spiked the interest in student retention and both faculty and leadership have been bringing this topic up in department meetings and strategy conversations.
To help anyone interested in learning about practices to support student retention, TCDC has compiled another “PD Playlist.” In this list, we focus on belonging, which after decades of research is understood as a key factor in student retention and success. We’ve arranged the resources from “sound bite” to “radio play” to “extended dance mix” and “full LP.” Some options will take just a few minutes of your time while others will require a longer commitment.
Visit the TCDC site, to view the entire catalogue of PD Playlists.
November PD Playlist
Sound Bites <10 minutes
Ask the Expert (video| 00:02:11)
NC State College of Education Associate Professor DeLeon Gray, Ph.D., explains the importance of helping students feel a sense of belonging at school and discusses strategies to foster these feelings. While the images are of school-aged children, the concepts he describes are relevant to post-secondary students.
Radio Play<20 minutes
Academic Belonging: MIT Teaching + Learning Lab (article| 00:17:13)
A discussion of the research into belonging and its relationship to motivation, engagement, academic achievement etc. The article offers case studies and practical strategies for increasing students’ sense of belonging.
Extended Dance Mix <60 minutes
What New Research Says about Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Classrooms (podcast | 00:54:33)
EdSurge interview with Greg Walton, a psychology professor at Stanford University, about ways to strengthen students’ sense of belonging, and how these strategies can significantly affect students’ academic success.
Full LP >1 hour
Academic Belonging in Higher Education (book | 04:00:00)
The concept of belonging has been increasingly understood as the missing piece in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education. This book explores the need to recognize and account for institutional-level factors that shape academic belonging, thereby improving student experience and outcomes.
