GETTING STARTED IN SOTL Jennifer Friberg Ed D
GETTING STARTED IN SOTL Jennifer Friberg, Ed. D. Bradley University Fall Forum August, 2015
Goals for this session: Participants will: Learn how to construct a So. TL research question Review methods to collect data on measurable outcomes Discuss ways to share So. TL work Consider value of So. TL work for meritorious purposes
Quick Introductions BRIEF introductions Name Department Experience with So. TL
Calibration: What is So. TL? Focused on improving teaching or learning Systematic examination Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Disseminated beyond researcher
Where Do So. TL Questions Come From? Your own teaching and learning questions, quandaries, and wonderments Published So. TL research From application or questioning of relevant theory. From reflections and conversations with others.
Common Questions Answered by So. TL (Hutchings, 2000) What is questions investigate the student experience. How do students perceive their experience in a service learning project? What works questions investigate the effectiveness of various pedagogical approaches. Does the use of directed journal reading help students comprehend research better? Visions of the possible relate to wonderments about “what if I tried this? ” How can student voices be better represented in So. TL?
Writing a So. TL Research Question What in your current teaching life could serve as the basis for a So. TL research project? Are your reflections based on: �Change in teaching over time? �Assessing similarities or differences across disciplines in terms of teaching and learning? �A desire to assess the effectiveness of a curricular program? Are your concerns based on: �an individual course? �a sequence of courses? �interactions across courses? �Perceived student needs?
Let’s draft a So. TL research question… Do you have a reflection or concern to harness as a potential research question? Take a moment and record an idea or two to build on… Share your topic/question with those around you
How do we measure So. TL research outcomes? (Mc. Kinney, 2013) indirect growth measures static multiple methods single organic existing qualitative quantitative direct
What sort of data can be used with SOTL research? Specific data sources could include: Course portfolios Specific assignments/projects/assessments (or artifacts therein) Interviews Focus groups Questionnaires/surveys Content analysis Multi-method studies
Revisiting your So. TL question… What method or methods could help you collect the best data to answer your question? How might your eventual audience impact your decision to utilize a particular methodology to address your So. TL question?
So. TL Dissemination Outlets Most common outlets include: Cross-disciplinary So. TL research journals �e. g. , International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Disciplinary pedagogical journals �e. g. , Journal of Marketing Education So. TL and disciplinary research conferences �e. g. , Lilly conferences, ISSOTL, AERA So. TL/pedagogical blogs �e. g. , The Teaching Professor, The So. TL Advocate, Learning with Metacognition
Considerations for New So. TL Researchers IRB construction/approval Exempt/non-exempt status Confidentiality/anonymity Coercion Teacher as researcher Need for advocacy
Valuable So. TL Resources Carnegie Foundation Illinois State University So. TL website Twitter/Facebook Chronicle, Inside Higher Ed Blogs Conferences Local, regional, national, international Colleagues
What are your questions about So. TL after our time together today?
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