Relationship Among Students' Sense of Community, Activity, and Grades in an Online Learning Environment

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Technology-Based Learning Environments for Teachers, Parents, and Communities

Abstract

This study researches the relationship between students’ sense of community in online learning environments and their academic performance. Utilizing the Rovai (2002) Classroom Community Scale (CCS), students’ sense of community in one online graduate course was studied. The results of this study provide two key findings. Sense of community does not appear to directly predict grades, but may indirectly affect grades through online course activity. In addition, the CCS’s two subscales have opposite impacts. Learning sense of community tends to increase online course activity, which in turn improves academic performance. Alternatively, connectedness sense of community tends to decrease online course activity, which in turn negatively affects academic performance.

Authors

• Anthony Durr, Augustana College

• Larissa Barber, Northern Illinois University