Exploring the Benefits of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: A Guide for Educators
As an educator, you likely strive everyday to help your students learn effectively. But how often do you think about the effectiveness of your own teaching? That’s where the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) comes in – as a systematic and evidence-based approach to studying and improving your teaching. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of SoTL and provide a guide for educators looking to start using it in their own teaching practice.
What is SoTL?
SoTL is a way of thinking about and improving teaching that’s grounded in research. It combines the rigor of scholarly research with the practical goals of improving student learning. SoTL is focused on answering the question: how can we better understand and improve our own teaching and our students’ learning?
The Benefits of SoTL
SoTL has many benefits for both individual educators and the wider educational community. Here are just a few:
Better Teaching
SoTL helps educators make better, evidence-based decisions about their teaching practice. By studying the impact of different instructional techniques or learning strategies, educators can make more informed decisions about how best to support their students’ learning.
Increased Student Learning
Engaging in SoTL can lead to increased student learning outcomes. By systematically studying and improving their teaching, educators can identify effective strategies that they can use to boost their students’ learning.
Recognition and Professional Growth
By engaging in SoTL, educators can increase their visibility and recognition within their field. This can lead to more opportunities for professional development, as well as improved job prospects.
How to Get Started with SoTL
If you’re interested in getting started with SoTL, here are a few key steps to take:
Choose a Research Question
Start by selecting a research question that’s relevant to your teaching practice and that you’re interested in exploring further. This question should be focused on improving student learning outcomes.
Design a Study
Once you’ve chosen a research question, design a study that can help you answer it. This could involve collecting data on student performance, surveying students about their learning experience, or testing different instructional strategies.
Analyze Your Data
Once you’ve collected your data, analyze it carefully to draw meaningful insights. This may involve using statistical software or other data analysis tools.
Share Your Results
Finally, share your results with other educators and researchers in your field. This could involve presenting at a conference, publishing your findings in a journal, or simply sharing them with colleagues.
Conclusion
By engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, educators can improve their teaching practice, boost their students’ learning outcomes, and gain recognition and professional growth. Whether you’re just getting started with SoTL or you’re a seasoned researcher, there’s always more to discover about how we can better support student learning.
