What is SoTL?
The Teaching Innovation Unit works with all levels of educators to support them develop an evidence-based approach to their work in ways that incorporates and contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning. This is often referred to as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning–or SoTL for short.
Whether you are starting out as a casual teacher at UniSA or you are more experienced, permanent or senior academic with teaching responsibilities then engagement with SoTL is an expected component of your work. As educators, SoTL informs what we do, and why,— even when we don’t realise it! But what exactly is SoTL? Why is it relevant? And how can it enrich our work in sustainable ways?
This brief video introduces the key ideas of SoTL and how it can be integrated into our teaching practices.
As you view this 6 minute video consider how you can extend your current engagement with the scholarship of teaching and learning. SoTL is so much more than simply reading the literature, or undertaking the kind of professional development opportunities we offer, it’s also about communities of practice--it involves you innovating, talking and working with others--it’s about the learning that occurs when you research your own practice, or apply for grants and awards, or when you work towards conference presentations and write papers. SoTL is about taking teaching seriously--and integrating it into your career planning.
If you’d like to know more about how we can support your engagement with SoTL — as an individual, as teaching team, or for your Academic Unit — please contact us at the Teaching Innovation Unit.
The Teaching and Innovation Unit offers a variety of options for professional development, including short courses, consultations, online modules and symposiums. Please check out the calendar to find out what's on.
The Authentic Assessment Project is one of our key projects. It undertakes a programmatic review of our approaches to assessment and how we prepare our students for the future workforce. Please check out the other TIU projects and initiatives.