This pre-conference workshop will support participants in designing and/or refining a scholarly investigation of student learning in their class, from developing or refining a research question, through ethical considerations, methods, data analysis, and dissemination.Part I (morning) Getting started
Participants will:
- Learn what SoTL is and how to get started
- Discuss conceptual frameworks that can inform the study
- Share, generate and refine research questions related to student learning
- Explore different approaches and methods for generating and analyzing data
- Think through ethical considerations involved in SoTL
This 3 hour session will be a combination of plenary presentations and small group activities. After a brief introduction to the scholarship of teaching and learning, participants will work in small groups led by facilitators as they identify something in their teaching practice that they are curious about. The small groups will develop and refine research questions. Different research designs and approaches will be presented as individuals have a chance to see what features seem to fit their orientation and research question, along with discussion of the “fallacies of SoTL” (Grauerholz and Main). Common ethical dilemmas will be explored through case studies. An ethical matrix (TLI 1.2) will help participants think through ethical concerns.
Part II (afternoon) I have data; now what?
Participants will:
- Learn more about approaches, methods and methodology
- Practice analyzing data
- Develop strategies for moving from data to evidence
- Explore dissemination options
This 3 hour session will be a combination of plenary presentations and small group activities. Participants will learn more about methods and methodology. Depending on participant interest, various methodologies will be explored. These approaches could include traditional approaches of grounded theory and case study, the interpretive approaches, critical theory, quantitative approaches and experimental designs. Participants in small groups will have the opportunity to practice analyzing data. Participants will also be led through strategies to move from data to evidence. The session will end with a discussion of dissemination options including conference presentations and publications.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Articulate one or more questions about student learning that they could investigate through a SoTL project
- Provide examples of conceptual frameworks that inform their learning goals
- Compare and contrast various methods for assessing student learning
- Compare and contrast various methods for analyzing data
- Design a SoTL inquiry to investigate student learning
- Choose dissemination venues appropriate to their goals
We would like to acknowledge the SoTL Canada SIG, of which the presenters are members, for generating the idea for developing this proposal.
