Online learners' identity construction

The past decades have witnessed increased enrollment in university distance-learning courses. However, an extensive literature has pointed out various challenges, among which the lack of interaction and sense of belonging were among the top issues. Meaningful learning occurs when students feel a sense of belonging in a community, where all learners feel welcomed and valued. To join the online learning community and get a sense of belonging, learners need to construct their images and be a "real person" who can communicate with others through online interaction. The purpose of this study is to present how learners' identities perform and develop in the process of peer interaction in the asynchronous online learning community. As a result, this will provide understanding on how online designers and instructors facilitate students' identity performance to shape productive online environments.