Principles of Good Practice

Principles of Good Practice in SoTL

Nancy Chick (2015) defines SoTL as follows:

• The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) is a synthesis of teaching, learning, and research in post-secondary education that brings a scholarly lens—the curiosity, the inquiry, the rigour, the disciplinary perspectives, and the attention to larger conversations—to what happens when learning happens (or doesn’t).
• We say that SoTL brings a scholarly approach because it begins with intellectual curiosity, is conducted deliberately and systematically, is grounded in an analysis of relevant evidence, and results in findings shared with peers to be reviewed and to expand a knowledge base.

Peter Felten’s (2013) “Principles of good practice in SoTL” has become an important touchstone for undertaking and assessing work in the field. In this paper, Felten proposes 5 principles for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning:

1. Inquiry focused on student learning
2. Grounded in context
3. Methodologically sound
4. Conducted in partnership with students
5. Appropriately public.

For more information on these principles, read Principles of Good Practice in SoTL by Peter Felten and watch the accompanying film clips below, related to the topic.

Inquiry focused on student learning; grounded in context; methodologically sound

• Taxonomy of Questions in SoTL (Is it working? What went on? What would it look like? Theory/concept building)
• SoTL Research in English – The Relevance of Teaching Poetry Today
• SoTL Research in Nursing – Teaching Pain Management through Simulation
• SoTL Research in the Culinary Arts – Online, Face-to-Face or Hybrid Learning?