New to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) in higher education? Need a refresher? Looking for inspiration for a SOTL project? Considering applying for a Teaching Award? This post has resources and step-by-step suggestions to get you started.
These resources are also featured on the Learning and Teaching Scholarship page that supports the Professional Learning and Capability Enhancement (PLaCE) Framework.
Step 1: Get familiar with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
1. What is SOTL? and Why do SOTL?
A brief (10-15 minute) overview
2. What does SOTL investigate?
A comprehensive list of 190+ topics in SOTL (with annotated bibliographies)
3. What is the current state of SOTL in higher education?
Review the literature in this extensive review (43 pages), this survey report (21 pages) and other resources by Advance HE (ex-Higher Education Academy).
4. Get inspired by SOTL projects
A SOTL explorer tool allows filtering SOTL projects by context, project details, focus, etc.
5. Stay informed
Key journals in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (non-discipline specific)
Higher Education Research and Development
Higher Education Research & Development publishes scholarly articles on the theory and practice of higher education and educational development. Published by HERDSA Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
Examines educational developments throughout the world in universities, polytechnics, colleges, and vocational and education institutions. It reports on developments in both public and private higher education sectors.
International journal for the scholarship of teaching and learning
ijSoTL is an open, double-blind peer reviewed electronic journal published in May and November each year by the Center for Teaching Excellence at Georgia Southern University. The journal is an international forum for research and information about the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and its applications in higher/tertiary education.
The Journal of Higher Education publishes research into the academic study of higher education addressing institutional and educational developments issues.
Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
JoSoTL aims to address contemporary issues bridging teaching and learning in higher education, philosophical approaches to teaching, current research, and praxis.
Journal of University Learning and Teaching Practice
Peer-reviewed journal publishing papers on effective and innovative teaching and learning practice in higher education for educational practitioners in a wide range of disciplines to communicate their teaching and learning outcomes in a scholarly way.
Research in Higher Education publishes studies that examine issues pertaining to postsecondary education. The journal is open to studies using a wide range of methods, but has particular interest in studies that apply advanced quantitative research methods to issues in postsecondary education or address postsecondary education policy issues.
Studies in Higher Education publishes international research on higher education issues including institutional management and performance, teaching and learning.
Critical and theorised research in higher education teaching practice and policy for an international audience, spanning pedagogy, curriculum and assessment.
Some discipline-specific SOTL journals (examples)
Arts and Humanities in Higher Education
International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship
International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education
Journal of Accounting Education
Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology
Studies in Art Education: A Journal of Issues and Research
See this directory for more discipline-specific journals
Step 2: Lay the foundation for your own SOTL project
- Formulate your teaching philosophy (TECHE post)
- Start a teaching portfolio
- Choose 2-3 topics of interest and potential future research. Browse through annotated bibliographies on various SOTL topics.
- Start evidencing your teaching achievements (TECHE post)
Step 3: Contribute to SOTL
Plan your first SOTL project – A practical guide on getting started with SOTL
SOTL methodologies (2015 research paper) – What methodology will be a good fit for your SOTL project?
Step 4: Get recognized
Start planning your L&T award application by: reviewing what’s considered ‘good’ evidence by AAUT (Australian Awards for University Teaching); reading this reflection on award application process (10-page article); and considering this 2-page checklist for a winning AAUT application.
Other resources
Learning and Teaching Repository by Universities Australia (Browse a collection or research in Higher Education).
A framework to evaluate University Learning and Teaching Practice (6-page worksheet with focused questions).
Evidencing your teaching – a practical workbook (18 pages)
SOTL explained and illustrated – Youtube videos
Image credits: 8photo @ Freepik
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