In this article it quotes ‘The related construct of “belonging”, especially in its social dimensions, is also concerned with the individual’s relationships with others. A desire for belonging is a yearning for connection and a need for interpersonal relationships (Allen, 2020a; Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Allen & Furlong (2021)
This correlates with my finding and the thoughts around belonging with my students. I was attracted to this article as it discusses loneliness and many of my students have worked as a team remotely due to the pandemic. I know that previous cohorts have suffered from loneliness whilst doing this course as they were in lockdown, in another county far from home and concerned how events were unfolding with little connection to others.
This overlaps with Lindsay talk about belonging when she talks about not being about to escape loneliness or anger. Its seems as if the loneliness and belonging are interlinked as ‘Indeed, these connections are so close that it seems imperative that the two terms be removed from their siloes and integrated into research and practice’. Allen & Furlong (2021)
This is also brought up in my focus group when one of the students says
‘sometimes when you’re at home, and you’re trying to figure stuff out. It’s a lot harder and you do feel. I mean, in a sense, literally more isolated, but also, like figuratively, you know, being at home trying to figure stuff out versus being on campus’.
I wish I’d picked up more on that conversation and investigated it more. It doesn’t just relate to the pandemic but alienation from a group or feeling like you are on the outside.
This is definitely something to consider.
Another
Findings and thoughts
That the students wanted ownership of their course, the peer to peer came up often, passing on skills to reconfirm knowledge, to facilitate their own extracurricular workshops and be involved.
Student 3
Maybe if I’m vision mixer, next time and it would be better for me to teach teacher person who’s taking the role in this time, because I it will recall my memory too. And it can also that helps to communicate with each other and improve the like the atmosphere in your group.
To have smaller groups to facilitate Q&A and learning.
Mixing up of groups regularly so all students get to meet each other help with confidence to volunteer and speak up.
Students 1
I’ve enjoyed the most out of all the studio sessions.