Online distance learning presents unique psychosocial characteristics due to the inherent distance between learners. Social presence --the sense of being with others-- is key to mitigating this distance. However, our understanding of social presence remains limited, despite its potential to reduce social isolation and cultivate a conducive social…

This study aims at identifying the emotional, physical, psychological, and social states of individuals who had to stay home for a while due to the measures taken to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine what kind of recreational activities they preferred during this period. We used a mixed research method and composed the…

With the growth of online programs in higher education, students are more likely to experience various barriers and challenges while taking online courses, such as social isolation, low motivation, distraction, and mental health issues. Mindfulness-informed pedagogy, such as contemplative pedagogy, showed its promise in decreasing students'…

Male primary teachers make up a minority of the primary teaching profession in countries such as Australia, England and the United States of America. This minority status can result in male primary teachers feeling socially isolated within their schools, and consequently choosing to leave the profession. This gender-related challenge is known, yet…

The aim of this study was to explore the isolation or perception of social loneliness school administrators experience in the workplace. To this end, the researcher has addressed the following research questions: What are the isolation and social loneliness perceptions of school administrators?, What are the causes of isolation and social…

This article highlights the power of storytelling as a tool for professional learning for educators and educational leaders, particularly during this time of intense social isolation. Storytelling not only offers opportunities for healing, growth and community building, but also guides and supports educators in creating more equitable spaces for…

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, children and families in rural communities have been experiencing unprecedented long-term social isolation and insufficient access to mental health services. Prior to the pandemic, access to mental healthcare in rural communities was already inadequate, leading rural populations to be routinely underserved when facing…

Because addiction is a socially isolating disease, social support for recovery is an important element of treatment planning. This study examines the relationship between social isolation, giving and receiving social support in Alcoholics Anonymous during treatment, and post-treatment outcomes among juvenile offenders court-referred to addiction…

The purpose of this study is to explore how social networks impact learners' knowledge sharing in the context of a learning community. The findings indicate that the various networks collaboratively support learners' knowledge sharing in a local community. A better social position gives rise to more networks and correspondingly more knowledge…

Using the Theory of Social Support and the Community of Inquiry as theoretical frameworks, this qualitative study explored international students' experiences, challenges, and perceptions of online learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. By conducting three virtual focus group interviews with 18 international…

This paper elaborates how home care workers develop skills in their workplaces after only brief classroom manual handling training and suggests how this development may be supported in situations of relative social isolation. A qualitative approach was adopted for this inquiry, in which new home care workers were directly observed and interviewed…

The purpose of this quantitative multi-institutional study was to examine the contributions of institutional integration and cultural integrity to Native college students' sense of belonging within Non-Native Colleges and Universities. Both cultural integrity and institutional integration contributed significantly to sense of belonging. This study…

While there continues to be increasing research about Black male teachers' school-based experiences, there is less empirical evidence on the variation in these experiences for this subgroup. Drawing on Kanter's Theory of Numbers and Group Composition, the researcher used the qualitative method to compare the perceptions of Black male teachers in…

There is a paucity of research on the day-to-day experiences of raising gifted children from the perspective of parents. This qualitative study aimed to delve deeply into the phenomenon by interviewing parents of elementary-age gifted children. We conducted 12 interviews with parents whose children attended gifted schools. The interview…

Young adults hold many stereotypes about aging and older adults that formal education cannot always address. Interaction and community engagement projects with older adults can challenge and dispel stereotypes young adults hold about older adults. This semesterlong project is designed for undergraduate students in interpersonal and relational…