Having social connections is a key driver of student wellbeing. Since students spend so much time in the learning environment, it is not surprising that their wellbeing is supported when they feel connected to their instructors and to their peers.
The student-instructor relationship
For students, getting to know their instructors fosters a sense of belonging, which has a direct impact on their wellbeing. Fostering the student-instructor relationship also promotes student wellbeing in other ways:
- It makes it easier for students to reach out for academic help (when necessary) – Having a relationship/getting to know the students makes instructors seem more approachable
- It motivates students to do well in the course – students seem to feel more responsibility for their learning when they can connect with the instructors (having a relationship also makes it easier for instructors to choose examples that will interest and engage their students)
- It makes it easier for the instructor to support the whole student, as they have a better understanding of the issues that students might be experiencing.
Among the instructors we interviewed, getting to know their students makes the teaching experience more rewarding. Here’s what one instructor had to say about this!
Note: a few students indicated that feeling connected to their instructor had no impact on their wellbeing – as long as the instructor could teach effectively.
Peer-to-peer relationships
Peer to peer relationships promote student wellbeing by increasing students’ level of confidence, promoting happiness, helping students to face challenges, supporting learning, and motivating students to do well academically (source).
Students indicated that they formed most of their friendships within the academic context, and that this process is facilitated when they interact repeatedly with the same group of students (e.g. as part of a standard timetable or once they enter their major). Group work and interactive teaching practices create opportunities in the classroom for students to get to know their peers.
Now that you have learned more about how social inclusion plays a role in student wellbeing, we’d like to hear what you think! What does social inclusion mean to you in the classroom?