Making a Difference: Application of SoTL Beyond the Classroom to Enhance Learning
Abstract
The scholarship of teaching and learning serves a variety of functions in higher education, but the primary one is to enhance learning. Though barriers exist to our use of SoTL to impact learning ( Poole , 2010 SoTL Commons keynote), we must continue and expand our efforts to apply this work in order to truly make a difference. Most of the application of SoTL occurs at the local-classroom-instructor level. This area of application is critical - perhaps the heart of SoTL. Yet, in order to achieve the greatest impact, we must apply SoTL work in a variety of ways at several levels. We must continue to widen the spaces of the “teaching commons” (Huber & Hutchings, 2005). In this practical presentation, several areas or levels of SoTL application will be discussed with special attention to those beyond the individual classroom level, some specific strategies or ways to overcome barriers briefly discussed, and concrete examples of these types of application from a variety of people and institutions described. Audience members' contributions of additional levels, strategies, and examples will be requested.
Location
Room 1601
Recommended Citation
McKinney, Kathleen, "Making a Difference: Application of SoTL Beyond the Classroom to Enhance Learning " (2010). SoTL Commons Conference. 79.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlcommons/SoTL/2010/79
Making a Difference: Application of SoTL Beyond the Classroom to Enhance Learning
Room 1601
The scholarship of teaching and learning serves a variety of functions in higher education, but the primary one is to enhance learning. Though barriers exist to our use of SoTL to impact learning ( Poole , 2010 SoTL Commons keynote), we must continue and expand our efforts to apply this work in order to truly make a difference. Most of the application of SoTL occurs at the local-classroom-instructor level. This area of application is critical - perhaps the heart of SoTL. Yet, in order to achieve the greatest impact, we must apply SoTL work in a variety of ways at several levels. We must continue to widen the spaces of the “teaching commons” (Huber & Hutchings, 2005). In this practical presentation, several areas or levels of SoTL application will be discussed with special attention to those beyond the individual classroom level, some specific strategies or ways to overcome barriers briefly discussed, and concrete examples of these types of application from a variety of people and institutions described. Audience members' contributions of additional levels, strategies, and examples will be requested.
