About SoTL

 

SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) matters because students matter. Because teaching and learning are central to the university experience, engaging with SoTL strengthens not only your teaching practice but also our entire institution. 

At the Teaching Centre, we are enhancing our SoTL support. Our goal is to inspire engagement in SoTL and serve interested educators with the tools and partnership needed to fulfill a rich and smooth SoTL experience. 

What is SoTL? 

SoTL is: 

  • a systematic inquiry into student learning and teaching practices, aimed at improving educational outcomes and sharing findings with others. 
     
  • an evidence-based approach. It involves gathering and analyzing evidence to inform teaching decisions. 
     
  • a scholarly process, following the same process as other rigorous research.  
     
  • a unique opportunity for student researchers to learn about research and pedagogy. SoTL can bolster students' understanding of research as they engage alongside their supervisor. It can also provide a shift in metacognition, as research on teaching and learning can offer new perspectives on education and encourage students to reflect on how they learn and operate as students.

SoTL is not: 

  • separate from teaching. It is an integral part of reflective practice and continuous improvement. 
     
  • discipline specific, as it draws from various interdisciplinary studies and is, consequently, applied across different fields of study. 
     
  • completed in a silo. Partnering with like-minded scholars, students, and Teaching Centre staff provides opportunities for rich and impactful research. 

Reach out to the Teaching Centre team. We would love to chat more about your interest in SoTL.