Avila Forcada, S. (2023) Messages that foster a sense of belonging improve learning and satisfaction. In AEA Papers and Proceedings (Vol. 113, pp. 514-518). American Economic Association.

Having a sense of belonging to class affects learning. Belonging allows the student to focus better on learning. This paper shows the result of a communication experiment in an online environment. For six consecutive terms, the instructor taught Introduction to Statistics using the same set of learning strategies. The instructor added a more direct communication strategy during three of those six terms. She used weekly communications that linked course material with current events and a personal message tailored to each student. The results were improved learning, measured by better grades, and more enjoyment of the course, measured by student comments. 

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