Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Why SoTL?

The Faculty Center of Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with Academic Affairs, offers an opportunity for full-time faculty and librarians to obtain grant funding to carry out Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects every academic year. As Kathleen McKinney writes, “The scholarship of teaching and learning goes beyond scholarly teaching and involves systematic study of teaching and/or learning and the public sharing and review of such work through presentations, performance, or publications.” Proposed research projects may be concerned with any aspect of SoTL, such as student learning, course design, or methods and modes of teaching; faculty members or librarians must carry out this research on their teaching during the summer or fall semester, analyze their findings, and share the results in a Faculty Center workshop designed for faculty and librarians. Past projects have focused on service learning, case studies, approaches to online teaching, students and technology, among other topics.

Additional SoTL Resources

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
From the Center for Excellence in Teaching at Georgia Southern University, a peer-reviewed journal that serves as an "international vehicle for articles, essays, and discussions about the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and its applications in higher/tertiary education today."

SoTL Tutorial from the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching
This well-organized tutorial contains all the elements necessary for initiating a SoTL project, from understanding what it is and its benefits, to all the steps in “Doing SoTL."  Videos and visuals throughout, explain, describe, and expand on concepts.

The Gallery of Teaching and Learning by the Carnegie Foundation
This website includes examples of teaching and learning as scholarly work, for example, collections, exhibitions, and case studies.

Selected SoTL Pages from other Universities
Illinois State University provides links to other SoTL pages

Past SoTL Grant Award Recipients

Academic Year 2020/2021

Princy Q. Mennella, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology- TAs as facilitators of student learning.

Joan Kuhnly , Jessica Holden Nursing  and Lynn Shelley- “Data Analysis and Future planning for Improving Empathic Behaviors in Students

Academic Year 2016/2017

Paige Hermansen (English): Sign Here If You Agree: Using Mutually Negotiated Grade Contracts in Undergraduate Courses

Sophia Sariaganindes (Eduation): Learning to Intergrate Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Preparing English Teachers for Anti-racist Instruction via Literary Study

Supriya Sarnikar (Economics): Developing a Cost-effective Customized Instructional Materials

Beverly Army Williams (English): Contract Grading and Local Ecology for Anti-racist Assessment: A Comparative Study

Academic Year 2015/2016

Mary Keator (English): Assessing Contemplative Pedagogy

Erica Morin (History): Using Role-Immersion Games to Recreate the Historical Events in the Classroom

Ed Orgill (Music): Working on Time and Rhythm in the Studio, Practice Room, Band Rehearsals, and Improvisation Classroom

Nora Padykula, Jennifer Propp, and Ziblim Abukari (Social Work): Changing Students' Attitudes toward Research

Academic Year 2014/2015

Beverly Army Williams (English): Digital Writing for Civic Engagement: And Examination of College Digital Writing and Public Discourse

Imo Imeh (Art): Ten Little Nigger Girls (Black Girls in Danger)

Kimberly Sherman (Economics & Management): Using Student Response Systems (SRS) in the Classroom

Andrew Habana Hafner (Education), Wilma Ortiz (ELL Coordinator), Sandy Berkowitz (Education): Faculty SEI Workshop - Connecting Coordinators & Coordinating Courses for Equity for ELLs

Academic Year 2013/2014

Felicia Barber (Music): Performance Practice of African American Spirituals: Gullah Spirituals and other Dialects

Heidi Boehler ( Movement Science):Teaching Gaes for Understanding and Self-Study Methodology

Carsten Braun (GARP): Undergraduate Research in Earth Science Classes - Engaging Students in the First Two Years

Vanessa Diana (English): Keeping Writing "Real" and Getting Muddy... Writing and Civic Engagement in Stanley Park

Academic Year 2012/2013

Rebecca Burwell and Janet Gebelt (Psychology): Developing Student Handbooks

Catherine Savini (English): Practicing and Assessing Participatory Community Engagement on  Campus

Academic Year 2011/2012

David Christensen (Biology): Using Community Outreach and Stable Isotope Technology to Educate Students about Aquatic Food Webs

Enrique Morales-Diaz (World Language Studies): Banned in Arizona: Racializing ... in 'Real Time'

Kevin Tatsugowa (Movement Science): Education, Safety, and Risk Management for Indoor Climbing Walls: Climbing Wall Instructor Provider Training Course

Academic Year 2010/2011

Terri Griffin and Laura Baker (Education): Bridging Universal Design for Learning and Understanding by Design Frameworks to Enhance Course Development and Teaching Practices at the Postsecondary Level

Karsten Theis (Chemical and Physical Science): Flipped Classrooms

Academic Year 2009/2010

Buzz Hoagland (Biology): The Interactive Classroom: Beyond Clickers

Max Saito (Communication): Intercultural Competencies - Introducing and Facilitating Discussions about Sensitive Issues

Catherine Savini, Chalet Seidel, and Beverly Williams (English): Project Connection: Linking First Year Composition Outcomes to Writing Across the Curriculum

Academic Year 2008/2009

Nick Aieta (History): With apologies to Daniel Pink - "A Whole New History? - Why Alternate Delivery Systems for History Classes Might Reach 21st Century Students"

Teresa Fitts and Holly Noun (Movement Science): The Real Deal: Investigating the Physical Inactivity Crisis through Dynamic Case Studies

Teri Shiel and Carolyn Schwartz (Library): Students' Use of Technology: Assumptions, Skills, and the Impact on Campus

Academic Year 2007/2008

Frank Giuliano (Physical Science) and Chris Masi (Physical Science): The Utilization of Nontraditional Models in Chemistry Research

Lolly Templeton (Education) and Signia Warner (Library): How Can Brain Research Be Applied To Information Literacy Instruction In Teacher Education

Nora Padykula (Social Work): The Impact of Early Relational Knowledge on Learning Interpersonal Skills

Academic Year 2006/2007

Teresa Fitts (Movement Science) and Holly Noun (Movement Science): Baby Steps in Service Learning: Creating Service Learning Opportunities within a Campus Community 

Karen Pinco (Biology):  Integrating Case Studies into the Anatomy and Physiology Curriculum