SoTL: A Micro-Introduction

Do you do something new and exciting with your students that you’d like to tell the world about? Sounds like you’ve got a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project! These 30-minute overviews will introduce you to the world of SoTL and help you understand the importance of navigating the Institutional Review Board. You’ll learn about the CAT’s streamlined Umbrella IRB process and the other support we provide to SoTL research projects. Browse current and future SoTL Micro-Introduction Offerings.

SoTL Consultations

We invite you to take advantage of our one-on-one SoTL consultation service that provides in-depth and personalized guidance for your teaching and learning research, advice on what steps to take to get your work underway, and support constructing and submitting the necessary materials to carry out your project. Book a virtual or in-person consultation with us today. 

SoTL Drop-In Lab

This monthly, synchronous, hybrid option — stop by the CAT in-person or join over Zoom — is an open, informal space for you to work on your educational scholarly activities with the support of CAT staff. And so, if you are looking for a bit more structure to help you make progress with your research or if you are looking to collaborate with colleagues from across the university, then the SoTL Drop-In Lab is the place for you.

While there is no registration required for the Drop-In Lab, browse our current and future Drop-In Lab dates/times. 

SoTL Circles

Join one of our SoTL Circles, which are for both beginners wanting to take their first step into teaching and learning research and for those aiming to hone their existing scholarly skills. In these 12-part, cohort-based initiatives, you and your Circle colleagues will have the opportunity to learn from CAT staff how to design a SoTL study from start to finish. In addition, you will learn about the process of seeking university approval so you may carry out your SoTL project.  

Browse current and future SoTL programming. 

Other SoTL Programming

In addition to consultations, Circles, and the Drop-In Lab, we provide a range of SoTL focused workshops and book groups. These additional special-topic offerings aim to meet current SoTL needs and look to address contemporary issues that may influence educational scholarship. If you cannot use the scheduling app or do not see a consultation time available that suits your schedule, please email cat@temple.edu or call 215.204.8761 for assistance.

Browse current and future SoTL programming. 

If you have an idea for a SoTL workshop for your department, college or unit, you can work with the CAT to develop programming that serves your needs. To request a custom workshop, please complete this form. A CAT staff member will reach out to you to initiate the planning process. Because custom workshops are designed to align with your specific requirements, planning time is required before workshop delivery, which varies depending on the time of year. Even if you haven’t yet determined a specific date for the workshop you are requesting, let’s start the conversation so we can best serve you.

A Guide to SoTL Success

SoTL Roadmap PDF

WHY might I want to do a SoTL project?

• It can be an opportunity to systematically reflect upon and assess your instructional actions. 
• It can help guide your pedagogical decisions.
• It can improve your teaching and your students’ learning.
• It can be a learning opportunity for your students.
• It can help other educators implement more effective teaching practices.

WHAT else do I need to know about this type of scholarship?

Determining if your SoTL project is human subjects research (Definition of Human Subjects Research), completing the necessary ethics trainings (IRB Trainings and Resources | Office of the Vice President for Research),  and navigating the IRB submission process may be a bit tricky. To assist, the CAT and Temple’s IRB created a protocol by which the CAT can review and approve teaching and learning focused research conducted here at Temple. Please see our Umbrella IRB web page for more information.

WHERE can I publish my SoTL project?

• APA journals
• Teaching Journals Directory
• Reviews of Peer-Reviewed Journals
• General Journals for STEM Teaching and Learning

WHAT resources can help me get started?

• Engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: A Guide to the Process, and How to Develop a Project From Start to Finish (Bishop-Clark & Dietz-Uhler, 2012)*
• The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in and Across the Disciplines (McKinney, 2013)*
• SoTL in Action: Illuminating Critical Moments of Practice (Chick, 2018)*

*Some content for this page sourced from these publications.

WHAT are some examples of SoTL Projects?

• Examples of SoTL at Jefferson University

CAT poster printing services are available to Temple University faculty and staff on a first come-first-serve basis. Printing requests take up to 3-5 business days to process from the date of submission. To request this service, complete the following online Poster Printing Request Form in its entirety, including accurate FOAPAL information where applicable.

You will receive a confirmation email when your request is submitted and another when your poster has been printed and is ready for pickup. Posters can be picked up at one of two locations:

Main Campus EdTech Lab

TECH Center, Room 110

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm

Since posters are not printed at this location, orders are generally available Wednesdays after 3pm following the 3-5 business day window mentioned above.

Health Sciences Campus EdTech Lab

Student Faculty Center, Room 200

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 8:30am-5:00pm

Wednesdays, 8:30-12:30am

For more detailed guidelines on procedures for printing a poster, including poster formatting and how to pay, please read the Poster Printing Policies and Procedures. If you have any further questions regarding the Poster Printing format or procedure, please contact [click-for-email], call the CAT’s Educational Tech Lab at (215) 204-8761, or visit any ETL location.

This Micro-Credential offers a unique opportunity for Temple educators such as yourself to advance your professional skills and pedagogical knowledge while simultaneously gaining additional recognition for your teaching and learning scholarship. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Micro-Credential is a prestigious marker highlighting your deep commitment to teaching practices and dedication to the pursuit of educational excellence via research.

Level: Intermediate

Time: Approximately 30 hours

Cost: Free

Criteria:

• Educational Experience
  • Schedule and take part in at least two one-on-one SoTL consultations as you begin (or continue) your SoTL project.
    • Make an Appointment with Benjamin Brock
  • Join and complete a SoTL Circle
    • Workshops, Programs & Special Events
    • Note that participation in and completion of a SoTL Circle offered by the CAT through specific departments or colleges will count toward this requirement. Please contact the CAT for more information about SoTL Circles and what constitutes completion.
• Professional Experience
  • Present your SoTL project at an academic conference or publish your study in a scholarly journal.

Skills:

•  Academic writing
• Assessment and evaluation
• Curricular/pedagogical development
• Higher Education
• Professional development
• Publication
• Research
• Research Methodologies
• Scholarship
• Teaching and Learning

Application:

With these requirements fulfilled, please send the completed Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Micro-Credential Worksheet along with proof of acceptance to an academic conference or scholarly journal to Smartsheet.