Student Identity in the Online Classroom
How does the online classroom affect students’ ability to learn?
In this article we attempt to answer this question by looking at intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may affect students’ ability to learn in the online classroom.
Intrinsic factors include confidence and self-efficacy, both of which help to establish an “identity” in the classroom.
Self efficacy: is a set of beliefs in one’s own behaviors and ability to perform well and achieved desired goals.
Extrinsic factors include socioeconomic status and interactions with others, both of which help to establish an “identity” in the classroom.
We will also look at identity and its connection to mental health.
What do we mean by student identity?
Student identity: is a set of beliefs, values, and commitments that an individual connects towards being a student.
We provide ways for students to work alongside teachers, school administrators, and their parents to achieve the identities that bring them success in the online classroom.
At the end of this article you can sign up to receive our FREE parent guide for as a means in which parents, along with teachers, can help support in understanding the implications behind student identity.
How then can students establish their identities in the online classroom?
Table of Contents
Building Student Identity
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Learning in the online environment is very different to the traditional classroom environment.
Student Identity in the Online Classroom (Video)
Watch our video to see how students can establish (or claim) an identity that will improve their communication with their teacher and better their learning experience in the online class.
The Redefining of Student Identity in the Classroom
Socioeconomic status in education still remains a relevant issue in today’s classrooms around the world.
The reliance on the Internet for educational purposes has furthered the divide between students who could ‘easily’ afford to make the transition to online learning verses those who could not.
How then has this new and increased reliance on the Internet impacted student identity?
Types of Student Identity
The definition of identity can be perceived as two different identities, assigned identity, that which is given to one by others, and claimed identity, that in which one acknowledges, or claims for oneself.
Research has helped with formulating an understanding as to the new identities students are expected to take on in the virtual classroom.
How then do we expect students to claim their identity in this new ‘digital’ age of ‘virtual’ learning?
Socioeconomic Status and Student Identity
In the ‘normal’ classroom, socioeconomic status divide may be evident in material belongings or lack thereof.
However, school administrations and teachers established policies and procedures as to allow all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, with the same opportunities to learn in the classroom.
Breakfast and lunch programs at schools provided ‘underprivileged’ students with means to come prepared to learn. Healthy bodies make for healthy minds. Healthy minds help establish one’s identity.
In the school year of 2020, it may have become more clear to the students themselves, which identity category they felt they belonged to given how easily they could adapt to the new online learning environment.
How then has this new learning environment affected the identity of students?
Mental health research of students in changing classroom dynamics has seen growing interest in helping students at any stage in their learning recognize their identity.
It is therefore worth looking into the phenomenon surrounding mental health and student identity in the online classroom.
Student Identity Mental Health
Mental Health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a state of well-being in which individuals successfully cope with the normal stresses of life, enabling them to contribute productively to their community.
Schools around the world were forced to define or redefine their policies and procedures around online learning in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
School administrations also looked at the effects of rapidly changing policies and its effect on the mental health of both teachers and students.
It goes without saying that students who experience high levels of stress can dramatically affect their learning in the classroom.
In looking to rationalize the research behind the reasons for students struggling with online learning, the concept of mental health became an emerging field of interest.
Challenges To Student Identity
Students may find many challenges with learning online. We discuss these challenges, and ways students can work with their families, teachers, friends, and schools to make online learning easier; helping them to claim their own individual identities.
I. Family Finances
Students may find it frustrating that their family may not be able to provide the necessary means needed for online learning.
Solution: School Support Services
Students can move past their frustration by discussing the situation with their family and letting the school help with providing the necessary means to facilitate online learning.
II. Participation In Class
Students may find it difficult to express their thoughts and feelings about learning in the online environment with their teachers, which may prevent them from participating, hindering their identities.
Solution: Teacher Support
In reaching out to their teachers and sharing their thoughts, students may be surprised at just how helpful teachers can be in offering the emotional and learning support as they need. After all, teachers can relate to what it feels like to be in the online classroom.
III. Using EdTech Tools
Students may find it frustrating and isolating having to navigate learning while trouble shooting any technical errors they may have during class.
Solution: Support from Classmates
Helping fellow classmates, who may not be used to working with online learning platforms, solve their technical issues (by sending them instructions through chat messages) offers benefits all, including building identities.
IV. Using Their Learning Styles In The Online Classroom
Students who are tactile learners may find it hard to learn to adjust to this new style of learning when they find the lessons don’t allow for physically engaging activities.
Solution: Support for their Learning Style at Home
Along with teacher support, families can provide the physical materials necessary for the student to engage in the lesson at home using materials the teacher uses to help explain the lesson.
All of these challenges may be a source of stress for the student, whereby impacting on their mental health. Therefore, EduKitchen also provides strategies that may help with learning in the online classroom.
One Community To Support Student Identity
When students feel that they are all provided the same opportunities by their teachers then this may allow for students become more active members in the online classroom.
School administration and teachers worked hard over the 2020 school to ensure all students had means to learn electronically by providing ‘underprivileged’ families with donated electronic devices.
When administration recognizes and acknowledges the benefits to mental health and identity by allowing flexibility in the classroom, students reap the rewards through knowledge that their teachers pass on to them.
By working together, school administration, teachers, and parents can then work to allow for healthy students, with healthy minds, who believe in themselves enough to be able to form their own identities now, and in the future.
Final Thoughts...
With the right mindset and general approaches to learning, students can learn to look past the platform and instead focus on how to establish their style of learning.
The right approach to learning means finding what works best for you as a student. Why not look at learning in a new way – one that works both inside and outside the classroom.
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Share Your Thoughts
Note: Our suggestions are meant to be a means of support as to how students can cope with learning in the online classroom. We recommend students stay in constant communication with their parents, teachers, and school administration for all the up-to-date changes to their school policies involving the online classroom.
Leave us a comment below and share your thoughts on this article and our suggestions for recognizing student identity in the online classroom.
Danya Khelfa
Founder of EduKitchen