“This is our own conference, by Stellenbosch University for Stellenbosch University staff. This is all about trying to become more and more excellent in our teaching, researching and practicing in a way that is of interest in learning and in the interest of our students as well."
This was the message of Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching at Stellenbosch University (SU), during the opening session of the 12th Annual Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) on Tuesday (29 October 2019).
Schoonwinkel emphasised how important this conference was to help build relationships and nurture new scholars at the University.
Scholars and teachers from various faculties at SU had an opportunity to present their research, educate one another and inspire emerging scholars at the event, which is organised annually by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at SU. This year's conference was held on 29 and 30 October 2019 at the Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. There were also pre-conference workshops on 28 October 2019.
The mission of the Centre is to create professional learning opportunities for academic staff in faculties and to be thought leaders in the areas of responsive, innovative and scholarly teaching and learning.
Every year, the SoTL conference provides a platform where academics share and celebrate teaching and learning practices and research. It also aims to address all aspects of teaching and learning at the University in an open, supportive and intellectually stimulating atmosphere.
Participation has grown exponentially since its inception in 2007 with 87 presentations and around 300 registered participants attending this year.
The keynote speakers, Dr Joy Mighty (Professor and Senior Scholar for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President [Academic], Carleton University) and Prof Geo Quinot (Professor: Department of Public Law & Director: African Procurement Law Unit, Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University), challenged the audience with thought-provoking presentations.
In her keynote address during the opening session, Dr Mighty challenged teachers to think carefully about why they were teaching and emphasised that teaching mattered in our society to help future generations. She believes that, “good teachers understand how their learners think and reason", so they can plan and teach from their learner's perspective, making the material accessible and meaningful.
Mighty also said that good teachers should promote a climate of caring and trust and should provide encouragement, clear expectations and reasonable goals to help learners succeed.
“Effective teaching seeks to change society in substantive ways. Teaching is central to the academic mission of any university. We have a responsibility to create learning environments where students can thrive, to motivate them to be the best that they could be and enable them to transform and extend knowledge in ways that deepen their understanding, develop their ability to think critically and ultimately facilitate their full and effective participation in society," said Mighty.
Please visit the conference website at http://www0.sun.ac.za/sotl/ for more information about the rest of the programme and to access abstracts from all the presentations. All enquiries can be emailed to sotl@sun.ac.za
Photo by Anton Jordaan.
