In the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) short course you will learn about refining your research question, consulting literature, using educational theory as a lens, designing an appropriate methodology to gather and interpret data and translating this into a clear and comprehensive proposal that adheres to Stellenbosch University's (SU’s) ethical principles and institutional permission principles.
The SoTL short course is aligned to Level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and is a five-credit short course.
Objective:
To assist teaching academics to conceptualise and design a SoTL research study.
Outcomes:
Upon completion of this short course, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between educational research and the SoTL;
- Discuss how SoTL research can improve teaching, learning and assessment (TLA);
- Identify and formulate a research problem and question in their own TLA sphere;
- Critically assess and synthesise relevant literature applicable to the research question;
- Select an appropriate methodology, method of data gathering and data interpretation approach to answer the research question;
- Select an appropriate educational theory that will inform methodological choices;
- Consider the ethical principles and institutional permission requirements applicable to the study; and
- Design and present a research proposal bringing together all of the above elements.
Presentation:
- Three face-to-face contact sessions
- Asynchronous online learning
Assessment:
Oral and written presentation of research proposal with peer feedback
Assessment criteria:
A written research proposal with:
- a clear research question, relevant to the SoTL and the identified problem;
- a clear rationale for the study; and
- linked to relevant literature.
The chosen methodology is suitable for answering the research question and the planned data gathering methods and data interpretation strategy are appropriate and achievable.
The proposal should comply with ethical and institutional permission requirements.

For more information, contact Hanelie Adendorff: hja@sun.ac.za