Establishing a Cultural Connection and a Sense of Place - Virtual Tour

Abstract

As a student, how important is it to create a strong sense of connection to an educational institution you have chosen to help shape your mind and prepare you for your future profession? This usability study, entitled “Establishing a Cultural Connection and a Sense of Place - Virtual Tour,” serves as a means to establish an enrollment pathway to Honolulu Community College for Native Hawaiian students and create a sense of place at the college for Native Hawaiians that is culturally significant and relevant. It is the Kuleana (responsibility) of an institution to create a distinctive learning environment and campus culture that students can connect to and establish a sense of place (Manning and Kuh, 2005). Creating a sense of place – both physically and emotionally has a direct positive impact on the experiences of students. Manning and Kuh (2005) expressed that colleges that take intentional efforts to create a sense of place foster a “powerful connection to something larger than oneself [and] encourages students to engage with faculty, staff, and peers in meaningful ways” (p.1).