Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), the publishing and presenting of scholarly inquiry on teaching, extends ongoing improvement of teaching. Building on your experiences and insights in the classroom, SoTL is one way faculty can systematically study students’ experiences and learning, share evidence of successes in teaching, explore and inform challenges, and contribute to peer-review scholarship.

Upcoming SoTL events

Start a SoTL cluster

Funding is available to create faculty-led scholarship of teaching and learning groups. Each cluster will receive up to $5,000 per year for two years as well as the supports below, all with the goal of enhancing teaching and learning through research informed approaches and reflection.

Connecting with colleagues

  • Faculty-led groups
  • Cluster meetings
  • Flexibility for joint, & individual projects

Researching

  • SoTL coach
  • Fund allocated by faculty in the cluster
  • Library liaison & guide

Publishing and disseminating

  • SoTL coach
  • Support to identify journal options
  • Writing Retreat

Propose a cluster

If you are interested in starting a SoTL cluster, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Is your research topic focused on teaching and learning within your own courses and programs?
  2. Are there colleagues you could collaborate with? Are they a network of people that is sustainable (long-term, multiple connection points, regular interactions, shared interests)? SoTL clusters have 4 or more (including the lead) faculty members.
  3. Are you planning to share what you are finding in your research locally and nationally or internationally? (a good reminder that what you are doing is valuable)
  4. Is your plan faculty-led in its decision-making and process?
  5. Is it a project that matters to you, and to your students’ success?

If the answer to those questions is yes, contact the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning. We will coach you through the steps and let you know if another faculty member has already started work on a similar topic or if there is an upcoming information session.

Below is a project charter proposal template and review rubric that will be used when you propose a new cluster.

Join a cluster

New clusters are continuously in development and are often seeking additional members. Contact the GMCTL if you'd like more information about them and/or would like to join.

Funded clusters

Pharmacy Education Development cluster

  • Ed S. Krol, Professor of Pharmacy
  • Roy T. Dobson, Professor of Pharmacy
  • Yvonne Shevchuk, Professor of Pharmacy
  • Jane Cassidy, Pharmacy Skills Coordinator
  • Kerry Alcorn, Program Evaluation and Assessment Coordinator

Improving student mental well-being and academic performance through first-year research experiences (FYRE)

  • Tim Molnar, Assistant Professor, Curriculum Studies
  • Murray Drew, Professor, Department of Animal and Poultry Science
  • Daryl Janzen, Departmental Instructional Assistant, Physics and Engineering Physics
  • Merle Massie, Coordinator, Undergraduate Research Initiative
  • Vicki Squires, Assistant Professor and Graduate Chair, Educational Administration

Aligning assessment and experiential learning cluster

  • Joyce McBeth, Assistant Professor, Geological Sciences
  • Sandy Bonny, Team Lead, ISAP & STEM Pathways
  • Jay Wilson, Associate Professor & Department Head, Curriculum Studies
  • Tom Yates, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources
  • Karla Panchuk, Sessional Lecturer in Geological Sciences
  • Harold Bull, Faculty, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology
  • Kirsten Fisher, Assistant Professor, Faculty Member in Political Studies
  • Sarah Gauthier, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering
  • Colleen Bell, Assistant Professor, Faculty Member in Political Studies
  • Kyle Anderson, Faculty, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology
  • Paul Dick, Laboratory Coordinator, Department of Biology
  • Vince Bruni-Bossio, Associate Professor, Edwards School of Business

Resources

Library resources

The library guide on SoTL list of core and discipline-specific journals and databases.

SoTL process

Resources

Identifying potential SoTL projects, questions and approaches

  • Individual coaching to identify feasible and relevant SoTL projects, questions and approaches - email gmctl@usask.ca
  • Reflect on your teaching, including what changes you have seen or anticipate seeing in your students, or what experiences you are seeking to know more about.
  • Consider joining or setting up a SoTL Cluster

Finding relevant Literature and relevant key terms

Study design

  • Individual coaching and advising on study designs and criteria for “good” research:
    email gmctl@usask.ca

Resources:

  • Designing a SoTL Project, Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, Grand Canyon University:
    https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/sotl/sotl_design

Ethics

  • SoTL project may fall within program evaluation exemption or research requiring ethics approval. Consult with the ethics office as to the process. https://vpresearch.usask.ca/

  • Forms, policies and information are posted in “Humans Ethics” section. The form for seeking ethics approval is: Beh-REB Application for Approval of Research Protocol

Resources:

  • A useful article on describing and mitigating the dual role as instructor and research is: MacLean, M., & Poole, G. (2010). An introduction to ethical considerations for novices to research in teaching and learning in Canada. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 1(2). Retrieved from:
    http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=cjsotl_rcacea

Data collection and inquiry implementation

  • Implement steps to keep data secure and respectful of your dual role. If you are collecting student surveys, identify a colleague or someone who collect and store surveys until after the course and grades are completed.

  • Individual coaching around a feasible collection and analysis plan - email gmctl@usask.ca

Resources:

  • A useful article on describing and mitigating the dual role as instructor and research is: MacLean, M., & Poole, G. (2010). An introduction to ethical considerations for novices to research in teaching and learning in Canada. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 1(2). Retrieved from:
    http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=cjsotl_rcacea

Finding good journal and publishing

  • USask SoTL Library Guide - includes list of core and discipline-specific journals 
    http://libguides.usask.ca/sotl

  • Consider potential angles on your data and if there is more than one audience and enough substantive findings for more than one publication. Consider if you will present at a conference as you work towards a publication.

  • Individual consultations working through the focus and fit of teaching-oriented journal - email gmctl@usask.ca

Developing research program and applying for grants

Get Support

The Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning (GMCTL)

The GMCTL can provide individual or group consultation to any faculty who are considering starting a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning research cluster.