Challenges and Strategies for SoTL Awareness and Appreciation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.14.55

Keywords:

implementing SoTL, barriers or misunderstanding in SoTL, evaluating SoTL work

Abstract

In this paper, we present findings from an interactive workshop at the 2024 International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) conference that aimed to develop a global roadmap to advance the awareness and appreciation of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). While some institutions have successfully embedded SoTL into their cultural fabric, challenges persist in many academic contexts where SoTL remains misunderstood as a cross-discipline field of scholarship and research as well as undervalued as a change-making enterprise. Through collaborative activities, workshop participants explored systemic barriers, misunderstandings, and effective strategies from diverse institutional perspectives. The findings highlight actionable steps for institutions, administrators, and faculty to align their efforts, bridge knowledge gaps, and further elevate SoTL as a recognized scholarly pursuit. We also propose practical suggestions to support SoTL initiatives, enhance institutional commitment, and foster cross-institutional collaborations.

Author Biographies

  • Maria Gallardo-Williams, North Carolina State University

    Maria Gallardo-Williams (United States) is the director of Faculty Development at North Carolina State University; in addition to facilitating the university’s SoTL Institute, she has extensive experience conducting SoTL research.

  • Kerry Dobbins, University of Warwick

    Kerry Dobbins (United Kingdom) is an associate professor in the Academic Development Centre at the University of Warwick. As an experienced pedagogic researcher, her work focuses on supporting the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) at individual, collaborative, and strategic levels.

  • Brett McCollum, University of Central Florida

    Brett McCollum (United States) is a professor of chemistry and associate dean in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of CJSoTL and served as Chair of SoTL Canada and a STLHE board member.

  • Rosemary Tyrrell, University of California Riverside

    Rosemary Tyrrell (United States) is the director of the Office of Faculty Development and assistant professor in the Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine.

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Published

2026-10-30

Issue

Vol. 14 (2026): Teaching & Learning Inquiry

Section

SoTL in Process

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Gallardo-Williams, Kerry Dobbins, Brett McCollum, Rosemary Tyrrell

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

“Challenges and Strategies for SoTL Awareness and Appreciation”. 2026. Teaching and Learning Inquiry 14 (October): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.14.55.
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