Zoom out: An intervention on the virtual learning environment improves minority students' grades in two field experiments in Israel.

ABSTRACT: Closing the achievement gap for minority students in higher education requires addressing the lack of belonging these students experience. This paper introduces a psychological intervention that strategically targets key elements within the learning environment to foster the success of minority students. The intervention sought to enhance Palestinian minority student's sense of belonging by increasing the presence of their native language. We tested the effectiveness of the intervention in two field experiments in Israel (n > 20,000), at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when all classes were held via Zoom. Lecturers in the experimental condition added a transcript of their names in Arabic to their default display (English/Hebrew only). Our findings revealed a substantial and positive im

SUBMITTER: Endevelt K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11145196 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature