Examining the Relationship between Higher-order Learning and Students’ Perceived Sense of Community in an Online Learning Environment

Peggy A. Ertmer, Associate Professor, School of Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2098. Email: pertmer@purdue.edu

Donald A. Stepich, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, Boise State University, ID, 83725-2070 Email: dstepich@boisestate.edu

Keywords

Online learning environment, sense of community, higher-order learning

Abstract

Using specific strategies, recommended in the literature, for building a sense of community in online learning environments, we connected students at two universities through electronic discussions and video conferencing. To determine the effectiveness of our approach, we examined the relationships among students’ perceptions of community, their perceived learning, and measures of higher-order thinking. Results support the hypothesis that perceptions of community and perceived learning are related. However, evidence of a relationship between perceptions of community and higher-order thinking was not found, suggesting that these relationships may be more complex and difficult to discern.