1. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute August 22, 2017
“The Proper Use for Several Tools” The what, why, and how of Scholarly Inquiry into Student Learning
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute
August 22, 2017

2. Opening Assumptions We all start from different places
We all share some common goals
We all want to learn from each other
We all plan to give more than we get and leave with more than we brought
You came with the beginnings (at least) of an inquiry question
You will leave with a better inquiry question based on an equity mindset
You will encounter new ideas about data, methods, evidence, equity, and learning

3. Direction and Outcomes
What we talk about (and don’t talk about) when we talk about scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)
Why evidence-based research matters, and how it can lead to understanding and improvement of student learning
How to build a cycle of inquiry that leads to understanding and improvement of student learning for significant change
hands

4. Scholarship Described
Skillful teaching
Scholarly teaching
Scholarship of teaching

5. Scholarship Described
Skillful Teaching … demonstrates awareness, excitement, preparation, reflection, responsiveness, and more … fosters critical engagement and active learning … includes thoughtful assessment of learning and teaching

6. Scholarship Described
Scholarly Teaching … informed by the latest ideas in the field … using insights and innovations about teaching and learning from the field … striving for improvement of learning and teaching for the field

7. Scholarship Described
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning … rigorous evidence-based research conducted by teachers in their own classrooms … operates through an ongoing cycle of inquiry … seeing, gathering, and interpreting compelling evidence of student learning … peer reviewed and publicly disseminated findings and insights … influences teaching, learning, and scholarship beyond the local

8. Links … Start with your stories
“everything is held together with stories …
stories and compassion”
Winter Count – Barry Lopez

9. How do you know?

10. Cycle of Scholarly Inquiry
Observation – what you see (in your own class/course) leads to questions about learning
Investigation – what you need to know (via your question) leads to inquiry into learning
Examination – what you find (via investigation) leads to a claim about learning
Validation – what you offer (investigation and examination) leads to peer review
Dissemination – what you share (investigation, examination, validation) leads to understanding
Observation – understanding gained through the cycle leads to more inquiry (yours and others’)

11. Cycle of Scholarly Inquiry
Observation – students do better on quizzes when they work in small groups
Investigation – what is happening when students work in small groups
Examination – impact of off-topic conversation on student learning
Validation – coded transcripts, interviews, and analysis with student co-investigators
Dissemination – conference presentations, websites, NSF grant
Observation – building on previous work through corroboration and critique

12. Cycle of Scholarly Inquiry
Observation – seeing what you see
Investigation – question and evidence gathering
Examination – evidence analysis and claim
Validation – testing the claim and the process
Dissemination – sharing the story with others
Observation – seeing what others see
… taking the time ...

13. Cycle of Scholarly Inquiry
Asks these questions:
What do you want to know and will it lead to learning about student learning?
What do you need to know so you can proceed, including what came before?
How will you gather evidence of student learning in support of your claim?
How will you determine whether your evidence is compelling and significant?
Why does this inquiry need to be done, and what will change as a result?
Who else needs to know about this work?

14. Why Scholarly Inquiry Matters
“What we see, we see … and seeing is changing”
Planetarium by Adrienne Rich

15. Why Scholarly Inquiry Matters
From anecdote to evidence
Learning is not easy to observe, measure, explain, and improve
Improving learning takes more than tips, methods, & techniques … it requires analytical, intellectual, scholarly work
The intellectual work of learning scholarship contributes to improvement
Improvement in learning increases our students’ chances for success
Student success is why we are here, why we do what we do

16. Why Scholarly Inquiry Matters
From pedagogical isolation to integration
The work of teachers often occurs in isolation, including inquiry and improvement
Student learning usually occurs in isolation, without access to inquiry and improvement
Learning questions are often equity questions, and the answers can change lives
At stake is … “the quality of what our students come to understand, believe, and do on our watch” … and what we can claim about “the intelligence, skills, wisdom, and character of those whom we have educated” (Visions of the Possible, Lee Shulman)

17. Engaging in Scholarly Inquiry
The work of the institute
Diving deep into Milner, interrogating our own practices and premises
Focusing our inquiry on understanding and improving student learning
Working together to improve our questions, methods, and claims
Examining inquiry as awareness, empowerment, resistance, stance
Building the framework for the coming year with many hands

18. Links … Share what you learn
What have I learned but the proper use for several tools?” Seeing in silence: never the same twice, but when you get it right, you pass it on. What Have I Learned by Gary Snyder

19. Acknowledgements