Vlog

Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL)

What is SoTL?

For faculty engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)

“SoTL differs from scholarly and reflective teaching in that it not only involves questioning one’s teaching or a teaching strategy, but also formally gathering and exploring evidence, researching the literature, refining and testing practices, and finally going public. The purpose of SoTL is not just to make an impact on student learning, but through formal, peer-reviewed communication, to contribute to the larger knowledge base on teaching and learning (Bishop-Clark and Dietz-Uhler, 2012).” Learn More About the SoTL Journey

SoTL at Vlog

SoTL programs are sponsored, supported, and facilitated by Georgia Southern’s . One of the most significant ways the Faculty Center helps advance professional development is through supporting faculty research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The Faculty Center supports SoTL through

SoTL Advisory Board

The Georgia Southern SoTL Advisory Board is composed of Georgia Southern faculty who are actively engaged in SoTL at the local, national, and international level. Its primary purpose is to collaborate with the Faculty Center in guiding, supporting, and assessing the “SoTL at Georgia Southern” initiative. 

SoTL Commons Conference

Held annually since 2007, the SoTL Commons Conference brings together educators from around the world to present innovative research in teaching and learning. With attendees from over 90 institutions and 12 countries, the conference fosters global collaboration and practical insight into classroom success.

Learn More About the SoTL Commons Conference

Overview

The SoTL Faculty Learning Community (FLC) is intended for instructors new to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). We will use the book  (Bishop-Clark and Dietz-Uhler, 2012) as a basis for discussion and to guide us through the steps of developing a SoTL project.

The goal of the FLC is for you to become familiar with approaches to and theories of SoTL and to develop the skills necessary to continue your engagement in SoTL.

Expectations

Participants are expected to attend all meetings of the learning community and contribute actively to their collaborative research project. Participants will have opportunities to share their research findings in presentations on campus, at the annual SoTL Commons Conference, and/or the USG Teaching and Learning Conference.

Schedule

Contact facultycenter@georgiasouthern.edu with any questions you may have.

About

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Mentorship Program, sponsored by the Faculty Center, is designed to foster faculty engagement and leadership in SoTL at Vlog. The SoTL Mentorship program is designed to support faculty as they begin to explore and conduct SoTL research. Each year up to two faculty members are selected to support their advancement and completion of quality, innovative SoTL research projects, which aim to improve the understanding of teaching and learning. The SoTL Mentorship Program is a (one) academic-year commitment. Recipients are assigned a mentor from the SoTL Advisory Board, who provides feedback based on their expertise in SoTL research.

Benefits

The recipient will receive $500 in professional development funds from the Faculty Center upon fulfillment of their expectations. The recipient will receive free registration to the  if their presentation based upon this work is accepted.

Expectations

Mentorship

Recipients will organize two mentoring meetings per semester with their mentor. Mentor meetings are designed to support faculty in their SoTL work.

Workshop Presentation

Recipients will present a workshop on implementing insights from their SoTL research at a Faculty Center professional development opportunity during the Fall semester following their mentorship. Faculty Center staff will provide support in developing the workshop.

SoTL Commons Proposal

Recipients will be required to submit a presentation proposal based on their work to the .


Mentorship Program Timeline

  • Spring semester Pre (May) – Recipients announced and paired with a mentor.
  • ܳ– Project planning complete (i.e. develop project and obtain IRB approval, etc.) with the support of the mentor
  • Fall semester – Data collection and submission of proposal to SoTL Commons Conference.
  • Spring semester Post – Presentation at SoTL Commons Conference hosted by Vlog.

Eligibility

Who Can Vlog

All current full-time teaching faculty at Vlog may apply.

Employment Requirement

Applicants must remain employed by Vlog throughout their mentorship to receive program benefits.

Collaborative Projects

For collaborative Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects, only one application may be submitted and funded for the project’s primary investigator.

Previous Recipients

Individuals who have previously received the award are not eligible to apply again until four years have passed since their last award.

Nomination Portfolio

Nomination portfolios are limited to 6-8 pages (1” margins, minimum 12-point font, spacing: 1.5 or double-spaced). All materials need to be combined into a single PDF file. Portfolios that exceed 8 pages or do not meet formatting requirements will not be accepted.

Portfolios must include all:

  • Project Components
  • Supporting documents

Project Components

Each portfolio submission must include the following components:

  • Project Proposal Narrative – Projects may address, but are not limited to the study of the implementation and impact of one or more of the following: Innovative instructional strategies; Creative approaches for assessing learning; New teaching and learning technologies; Different formats of instruction (face-to-face, hybrid, online).
  • Introduction of the research question.
  • Overview of the research methodology.
  • Initial Literature Review with emphasis on how the proposed project builds on/responds to previous scholarship.
  • ٱپDzof how the results are expected to improve student learning and how this project will impact the teaching of one or more courses at Vlog.
  • Timeline for the development and completion of the SoTL Project.

Supporting Documents

  • Condense Curriculum Vitae that highlights presentations, articles, publications and/or professional development in teaching and learning and/or SoTL (2-3 pages).
  • A brief letter of support from the unit head (1 page).

I really like that I can use my classroom for research—and that my research directly improves student learning.”

Dr. Adrienne Cohen

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ijSoTL)

Launched in 2007, ijSoTL is Georgia Southern’s peer-reviewed, open-access journal. It gives faculty the opportunity to publish and review rigorous SoTL research with global reach. As of April 2024, the journal has:

  • 888,725 downloads
  • Contributions from 22,407 institutions worldwide

“IJ-SoTL is a vital outlet for sharing SoTL findings and amplifying the voice of Georgia Southern on the international stage.” — Dr. Nikki di Gregorio

History of SoTL

Founded in 2007 under the leadership of Dr. Alan Altany, “SoTL at Southern” was established to support faculty in developing research-informed teaching practices. Its foundational pillars include:

  • The SoTL Commons Conference
  • The ijSoTL journal
  • Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs)

“It was the dawning of the age of SoTL.” — Dr. Alan Altany

These three pillars have positioned Georgia Southern as a leader in faculty development and pedagogical research.

SoTL played a pivotal role in developing and evolving my teaching skills, optimizing my students’ learning environment.”

Dr. Rami Haddad

Connect with SoTL

Whether you’re new to SoTL or a seasoned scholar, Georgia Southern offers robust support, a strong scholarly community, and global platforms to elevate your teaching research. Explore SoTL programs, attend the SoTL Commons Conference, and join a Faculty Learning Community today.

Faculty Center
Email: facultycenter@georgiasouthern.edu

Statesboro Campus
Cone Hall, Second Floor
Phone: 912-478-0049
Fax: 912-478-0099

Armstrong Campus
Solms Hall, Suite 211
Phone: 912-344-3607