Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

The Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) team works closely with instructors to support research on teaching and learning at the University of Toronto. Through workshops, regular consultations on a wide range of research process topics, and by connecting faculty with others undertaking similar inquiry projects, the CTSI SoTL team connects individuals and divisions across the University to share experiences and research and encourage the rigorous pursuit of pedagogical scholarship.

Highlights

Conclusion of the First SoTL Cohort

The cohort of 14 continuing appointment faculty worked together between June 2018-July 2019. Each member brought an individual SoTL project to the group – some were starting with a new idea, while others were already more deeply involved in their research – and worked on it through regular face-to-face meetings and online discussions. Throughout this time the cohort was supported by CTSI facilitators and their peer participants as they built skills in designing and implementing a research project situated in course experiences.

These research projects were presented at the 2019 U of T Teaching and Learning Symposium (TLS) poster session. This culminating activity allowed the cohort to share their research with over 300 U of T colleagues attending the TLS.

Learn more about the SoTL cohort and projects.

Increase in SoTL Consultations

As interest and participation in research on teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning increases at the University of Toronto, so does the number of faculty members and staff seeking consultation. The CTSI SoTL team met with 28 U of T community members (total of 31 meetings) over the past year (an increase of 30 % from 2018) to discuss a range of topics, that spanned instructors beginning their research journey to others who sought feedback on draft publications. The SoTL Team also met with 7 members of the broader SoTL community (external to U of T). Team members were also invited to present the Faculty Fellows Workshop with the Centre for Community Partnerships (topic: SoTL Q&A) and the Centre for Teaching and Learning at UTSC’s Educator Exchange (teaching-related workshops for faculty).

COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and U of T moving to remote and online teaching and working, the SoTL team worked with CTSI, ACT and offices across the University to create resources to support faculty, staff and students. Topics included: Academic Integrity and the Role of the Instructor (a considerable update to an existing guide), Teaching Online/Remote – Planning for Next Term, and Instructor Resource to Help Students: 5 Tips for Students.

For more information on the CTSI’s and their SoTL team’s response to COVID-19, please see resources listed in Appendix D (coming soon).

Intersections

Throughout the year, SoTL programming and network events offered by CTSI bring together members of the U of T community in a variety of ways. The regular workshop series, including lunch and learn roundtables, are designed to support faculty starting with their research (e.g., See Yourself in SoTL), looking for guidance on essential issues (e.g., Research Ethics: Conducting Scholarly Enquiry on Your Teaching), and on methods of research (e.g., Survey Design & SoTL). The team works with facilitators from across the University when developing and delivering programming, including University of Toronto Libraries (in particular for Searching the Higher Education Literature, presented twice a year), and this past year, Student Life and the Department of Physiology.

Throughout this past year and as we all worked remotely and met virtually, the SoTL team continued to meet with faculty on a number of non-SoTL-specific topics, including providing feedback on important processes like dossiers and dossier reviews.

For more information on the SoTL team’s consultation data, see Appendix G (coming soon).