Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) 

Encompasses "theoretical underpinnings of how we learn, intentional, systematic, modifications of pedagogy, and assessments of resulting changes in learning.”​ (Gurung & Landrum, 2014)​. 

Teaching is not an impromptu act. 

Effective learning is largely the result of effortful teaching. In order to recognize the importance of teaching in higher education, Boyer (1990) broadened the description of scholarship to include the Scholarship of Teaching. Instructional activities must be carefully planned and continuously examined (p. 23), arguing that faculty should document the efforts of teaching and evidence of student learning as much as they document the scholarship of discovery (traditional scholarship), application, and integration.  This view of Scholarship of Teaching was expanded to include general activities related to advancing learning and described as Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Today, faculty of every discipline are welcomed under the 'Big Tent' of SoTL (Huber & Hutchins, 2005). 

Here at the CTL our first priority is to support Boyer's original intent and highlight the hard work of teaching. Our goal is to help faculty document their pedagogical efforts, especially the three components suggested by the OSU Faculty Handbook: 1. Peer Evaluation; 2. Evaluations by student representatives, and 3. Student Learning Experiences.  Given the reliance on a review of course materials  (syllabi, texts, assigned readings, examinations) for both peer review and student representative review- we advocate for the use of a Teaching Portfolio as part of the Promotion and Tenure Dossier.

OSU Hybrid and Online Peer Review Guidelines

These documents are intended as guides for Oregon State University faculty teaching online and hybrid courses. They are designed to help the instructor prepare for the peer review and for the peer reviewer in writing the peer review of teaching letter.

Hybrid Peer Review Guidelines

Online Peer Review Guidelines

Teaching Philosophies

Teaching Experience, Philosophy and Proposed Contribution

RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • A roadmap to SoTL. (Utrecht University). Great clear visual.
    A great tutorial on Doing SoTL (Vanderbilt University), or this site (David Voelker).
  • How to Conduct Quality Matters Research. A toolkit designed to assess online courses but has many useful ideas and a step by step approach to SoTL.
  • An Annotated Bibliography of SoTL. A growing list of key articles/readings separated by major topics in teaching and learning.
  • Applying method to (seeming) madness: Doing SoTL in your class. (Gurung, 2009). See Chapter 5 in this collection.
  • Wondering what the difference is between SoTL and Assessment?  Try this:
    • Gurung, R. A. R., & Landrum, R. E. (2012). Assessment and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. In D. Dunn, S. C. Baker, C. M. Mehrotra, R. E. Landrum, & M. McCarthy (Eds.) Assessing Teaching and Learning in Psychology: Current and Future Perspectives.
Tools & Guides
  • A quick overview of the research on teaching and learning:
  • Step-by-Step directions on doing SoTL:
    • Bishop-Clark, C., & Dietz-Uhler, B. (2012). Engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning: A guide to the process, and how to develop a project from start to finish. Stylus.
    • Gurung, R. A. R., & Wilson, J. H. (Eds.). (2013). Doing the scholarship of teaching and learning: Measuring systematic changes to teaching and improvements in learning. Jossey-Bass.
    • McKinney, K. (2007). Enhancing learning through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Anker.
  • A Compendium of Scales for SoTL (Jhangiani et al., 2015).  A well curated set of questionnaires for SoTL and chapters on best practices on the use of the same. Organized by topic, this compendium contains scale descriptions, validation information (if available), and marked references so scholars can examine past research that used each scale.
  • Using SoTL to Advance your Academic Position (Smith & Schwartz, 2015). This edited volume provides perspectives on how using SoTL can be helpful for faculty who use SoTL in their teaching. Authors focused on providing faculty members with the rationale for using SoTL in their teaching and with concrete steps they can take (and pointers they can use) in applying SoTL to the classroom, job search, and tenure/promotion process.
  • Handbook of Mixed-Methods Research.
SoTL Journals