Reflecting on institutional support for SoTL engagement: developing a conceptual framework

Abstract

This paper considers the support required to develop Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) capability across institutions. Rather than developing a checklist or a standardised audit approach, this paper describes the reflective journey taken by a group of academic developers who used strategies and structures previously identified in the literature to develop a conceptual framework for academic professional development. The framework was refined through an iterative process, including reflection on its use within diverse institutional contexts, combined with evaluative feedback from recognised experts in the field. The resulting framework is designed to facilitate and guide conversations to support institutional decision-making related to SoTL capacity building.

Keywords:

• SoTL conceptual framework
• SoTL and institutional culture
• enhancing engagement with SoTL

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people for their valuable contributions to this paper. Many thanks to Ondrej Timco, Beth Beckman, and Patrick Crookes, for their contributions as research team members to the early discussions, which formed this paper. We are also greatly indebted to our international experts, our connoisseurs, who provided valuable feedback in helping us construct our conceptual framework and the proposal for its use: Arshad Ahmad, Katarina Mårtensson, Mick Healey, and Nancy Chick.