Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Tag: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Deadline: Application to Join a SoTL Faculty Cohort

Sign up here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Faculty Cohort is a year-long professional development program for faculty who are new to SoTL or just beginning to develop a classroom-based inquiry project. Through regular cohort meetings, one-on-one mentoring, peer feedback, and structured accountability, participants move from curiosity about their teaching to a completed scholarly project ready for dissemination.

Over the course of the academic year, cohort members will design and implement a SoTL project, analyze findings to inform evidence-based practice, and produce a scholarly product. Faculty facilitators provide individualized support throughout the process.

Priority deadline for applications: September 1, 2026
Final deadline: September 15, 2026
Program begins October 5, 2026.

Note: Only participants of this program are eligible to apply for SoTL Curriculum and Teaching Leadership Funds.

Priority Deadline: Application to Join a SoTL Faculty Cohort

Sign up here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Faculty Cohort is a year-long professional development program for faculty who are new to SoTL or just beginning to develop a classroom-based inquiry project. Through regular cohort meetings, one-on-one mentoring, peer feedback, and structured accountability, participants move from curiosity about their teaching to a completed scholarly project ready for dissemination.

Over the course of the academic year, cohort members will design and implement a SoTL project, analyze findings to inform evidence-based practice, and produce a scholarly product. Faculty facilitators provide individualized support throughout the process.

Priority deadline for applications: September 1, 2026
Final deadline: September 15, 2026
Program begins October 5, 2026.

Note: Only participants of this program are eligible to apply for SoTL Curriculum and Teaching Leadership Funds.

Workshop: Introduction to Scholarly Teaching Inquiry

Register here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

Effective teaching often involves trying new approaches—but how do we know what actually improves student learning? Scholarly Teaching Inquiry/Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) offers a structured way to answer that question by treating the classroom as a site for systematic, evidence-based investigation. In this session, you will explore core principles of inquiry into teaching and learning, reflect on your own instructional practices, and identify a meaningful question about student learning in your course. You will begin designing a focused, manageable inquiry project and consider practical methods for collecting and interpreting evidence, with the goal of generating insights that can inform your teaching and contribute to broader conversations about learning. Attendees will be eligible for a drawing to win a copy of Nancy Chick’s Book, SoTL in Action. Please reach out to Breana Bayraktar ([email protected]) with any questions.
*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Workshop: Introduction to Scholarly Teaching Inquiry

Register here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

Effective teaching often involves trying new approaches—but how do we know what actually improves student learning? Scholarly Teaching Inquiry/Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) offers a structured way to answer that question by treating the classroom as a site for systematic, evidence-based investigation. In this session, you will explore core principles of inquiry into teaching and learning, reflect on your own instructional practices, and identify a meaningful question about student learning in your course. You will begin designing a focused, manageable inquiry project and consider practical methods for collecting and interpreting evidence, with the goal of generating insights that can inform your teaching and contribute to broader conversations about learning. Attendees will be eligible for a drawing to win a copy of Nancy Chick’s Book, SoTL in Action. Please reach out to Breana Bayraktar ([email protected]) with any questions.
*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Workshop: Introduction to Scholarly Teaching Inquiry

Canceled. Register here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

Effective teaching often involves trying new approaches—but how do we know what actually improves student learning? Scholarly Teaching Inquiry/Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) offers a structured way to answer that question by treating the classroom as a site for systematic, evidence-based investigation. In this session, you will explore core principles of inquiry into teaching and learning, reflect on your own instructional practices, and identify a meaningful question about student learning in your course. You will begin designing a focused, manageable inquiry project and consider practical methods for collecting and interpreting evidence, with the goal of generating insights that can inform your teaching and contribute to broader conversations about learning. Attendees will be eligible for a drawing to win a copy of Nancy Chick’s Book, SoTL in Action. Please reach out to Breana Bayraktar ([email protected]) with any questions.
*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Workshop: Introduction to Scholarly Teaching Inquiry

Postponed Register here | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

Effective teaching often involves trying new approaches—but how do we know what actually improves student learning? Scholarly Teaching Inquiry/Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) offers a structured way to answer that question by treating the classroom as a site for systematic, evidence-based investigation. In this session, you will explore core principles of inquiry into teaching and learning, reflect on your own instructional practices, and identify a meaningful question about student learning in your course. You will begin designing a focused, manageable inquiry project and consider practical methods for collecting and interpreting evidence, with the goal of generating insights that can inform your teaching and contribute to broader conversations about learning. Attendees will be eligible for a drawing to win a copy of Nancy Chick’s Book, SoTL in Action. Please reach out to Breana Bayraktar ([email protected]) with any questions.
*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Faculty Learning Community #2: Alternative Grading

Register here. | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

A Learning Community (LC) is a collaborative space where instructors, staff, and graduate students can come together to explore specific themes or issues related to teaching and learning. Regular meetings provide opportunities for reflective practice, where participants share and provide peer feedback. In these Alternative Grading Learning Communities, we will explore how different grading approaches can transform the way we evaluate and respond to student work. Participants who complete all of the pre- and post-meeting reflections/surveys will receive a $50 gift card.

  • LEARNING COMMUNITY #1: Tuesdays @ 7:00-8:15pm on Sept. 9, Sept 30, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 9
  • LEARNING COMMUNITY #2: Wednesdays @ 1:00-2:15pm on Sept 10, Oct 1, Oct 22, Nov 12, and Dec 3

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Faculty Learning Community #1: Alternative Grading

Register here. | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

A Learning Community (LC) is a collaborative space where instructors, staff, and graduate students can come together to explore specific themes or issues related to teaching and learning. Regular meetings provide opportunities for reflective practice, where participants share and provide peer feedback. In these Alternative Grading Learning Communities, we will explore how different grading approaches can transform the way we evaluate and respond to student work. Participants who complete all of the pre- and post-meeting reflections/surveys will receive a $50 gift card.

  • LEARNING COMMUNITY #1: Tuesdays @ 7:00-8:15pm on Sept. 9, Sept 30, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 9
  • LEARNING COMMUNITY #2: Wednesdays @ 1:00-2:15pm on Sept 10, Oct 1, Oct 22, Nov 12, and Dec 3

*Adding to your calendar will not register you for the event; please register using the link above.

Info Session: AI in Teaching & Learning Project

Register here. | Facilitator: Breana Bayraktar

Discover the Next Phase of the AI in Teaching and Learning Project

Over the past two years, the AI in Teaching and Learning project has brought together faculty, staff, and students from across the state to explore how AI is reshaping higher education. Our first phase focused on research into faculty and student experiences with AI, and our second phase developed evidence-based educational resources—covering student onboarding, assignment design, assessment, accessibility, OER, and more—to help instructors integrate AI ethically and effectively.

For the next phase (AY 2025–2026) we are recruiting faculty, staff, and students to join existing project teams or propose new ones. Project leads will guide you through planning, research design, IRB processes, and building cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations.

Join us for this informational session to learn how you can get involved, share your ideas, and help shape the future of AI in higher education.