Comparing the Sense of Online Classroom Community between Students from Urban and Rural Areas at a Chinese University

https://doi.org/10.9743/JEO.2022.19.3.9

Abstract

Building a sense of classroom community is essential for online courses, and various factors such as individual characteristics may influence this feeling. Therefore, this study investigated Chinese college students’ sense of online classroom community by comparing students from rural and urban areas and their previous online learning experience. A total of 256 students were recruited in a southeastern Chinese university and given a survey to evaluate their classroom connectedness and learning. Results indicated that students from rural areas experience a lower level of connection with the online classroom community. Additionally, students who had previous online learning experiences have a stronger sense of online classroom community.

Keywords: sense of classroom community, rural vs. urban, online learning, Chinese college students