Embracing complexity: an inclusive framework for the scholarship of educational development

ABSTRACT

The complex and ever-changing nature of the field of educational development has led to a scholarship of educational development (SoED) that is rich but also enigmatic. The authors outline four lenses through which SoED might be viewed, ultimately proposing a framework for SoED that empowers scholars to engage in a sophisticated negotiation between, among, and across disciplines, perspectives, and contexts so the field benefits from all approaches. We argue that by cultivating a dexterous SoED, educational developers can leverage a more inclusive scholarly community to explore more meaningful questions and advance SoED as a field of study.

KEYWORDS:

• Emerging forms of scholarship
• research philosophy
• scholarship of educational development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laura Cruz

Laura Cruz (PhD, 2001, University of California at Berkeley) is an Associate Research Professor for Teaching & Learning Scholarship with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State. Her current research projects include work on design thinking, academic coaching, classroom mapping, and the scholarship of teaching and learning at research universities. Her most recent co-authored book, Taking Flight: Making Your Center for Teaching and Learning Soar, is now available from Stylus Press.

Elizabeth Dickens

Elizabeth Dickens is Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Assistant Professor, general faculty, at the University of Virginia. Her research interests include curriculum design, humanities pedagogies, and the scholarship of educational development. She is the current editor of the POD Network’s POD Speaks series of occasional papers.

Anna L. Bostwick Flaming

Anna L. Bostwick Flaming, @Anna_Flaming, is Associate Director of the University of Iowa Center for Teaching, where she leads a team of educational developers. Her interests include inclusive teaching, general education, and curriculum design. Anna launched and continues to direct Iowa’s early-career faculty program. She previously directed the TILE active-learning program and Iowa’s Course Design Institute, which she created. She is chair of the POD Network’s Scholarship Committee.

Lindsay B. Wheeler

Lindsay Wheeler is Assistant Director for STEM education initiatives and Assistant Professor, general faculty, at the University of Virginia’s Center for Teaching Excellence. Her current research interests include how center interventions translate to instructional practice and impact student outcomes. She presents at national and international research conferences and currently serves as co-associate editor for To Improve the Academy.