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Engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

As an instructor, you have the potential to contribute to our scholarly understanding of effective teaching and learning in higher education; one way you can do so is by conducting research in your own classroom. You may hear this work called Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), discipline-based education research (DBER), teaching-as-research, etc. Explore the resources below to get started.

Collections

  • Faculty member presenting in the background to a seated audience
    Scholarship of Teaching

    What is SoTL?

    The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is the systematic study of teaching and learning made public, such as through publication in an education research journal or at a conference. This collection will introduce you to this type of classroom-based research.

    Headshot of Jess Taggart
    Jess Taggart
  • UVA Prof. Stacie Pisano helping students
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Getting Started with Discipline-Based Education Research

    Discipline-based education research (DBER) is the scientific study of teaching and learning via a combination of disciplinary expertise and social sciences methodology. Use this guide for help getting started with DBER. Some resources also cite the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).

    Headshot of Justin Shaffer
    Justin Shaffer
  • Aerial view of a woman typing on a computer
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Developing SoTL Research Questions

    Developing a strong research question is a critical first step in conducting a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project. This collection offers guiding frameworks and practical strategies to help you move from a general topic of interest to a well-defined SoTL inquiry.

    Headshot of Jess TaggartHeadshot of Lindsay Wheeler
    Jess Taggart, Lindsay Wheeler
  • Person marking up a document with a highlighter
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Navigating SoTL Ethics and the IRB

    Navigating ethical considerations and institutional review board (IRB) processes is a critical part of SoTL. This collection offers practical guidance and examples on what qualifies as research, how to prepare an IRB application, and how to uphold ethical standards in classroom-based research.

    Headshot of Jess TaggartHeadshot of Lindsay Wheeler
    Jess Taggart, Lindsay Wheeler
  • Photo of someone writing on paper with a pen
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Reflective Writing in SoTL

    Reflection is valued in teaching practice, so it should come as no surprise that reflective writing is valued in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Learn more about reflective writing in SoTL and peruse a few of my favorite examples from a range of approaches and perspectives.

    Headshot of Laura Cruz
    Laura Cruz
  • Aerial view of four students sitting around a table
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Collaborative Writing in SoTL

    Whether you're new to SoTL co-authorship or refining your approach, this collection offers resources to help you navigate collaborative writing. You'll find resources on authorship expectations, productive workflows, and models for structuring your work together.

    Headshot of Jess TaggartHeadshot of Lindsay Wheeler
    Jess Taggart, Lindsay Wheeler
  • A group of women collaborating in an office environment
    Scholarship of Teaching

    Supporting Faculty Engagement in SoTL

    This collection contains resources for educational developers interested in supporting faculty engagement in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).

    Headshot of Jess Taggart
    Jess Taggart
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