![iStock [Jag_cz]](https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/teaching-matters/wp-content/uploads/sites/7480/2017/08/iStock-531707022-Jag_cz.jpg)
Have you ever thought about taking a closer look at your teaching?
There’s now a chance for colleagues interested in this kind of work to join a network. The Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoTL) Network was launched last year by the Institute for Academic Development. This is a network for staff interested in researching, evaluating and disseminating their teaching practice. The group is growing rapidly and a list of recent SoTL publications totalled 314 items!
Several blog posts published here on Teaching Matters have described some of the research and evaluation colleagues have undertaken around teaching and learning.
How do students view assessment?
In this post from June 2017, Gale Macleod summarises a project investigating different forms of assessment in the Moray House School of Education. Student comments from postgraduate taught courses revealed that students would like to see more emphasis on the importance of independent learning at postgraduate level and would like assurances that written work will always be assessed by the course tutor.
What does good teaching look like to students?
Patrick Garratt considered the nomination comments provided for the Edinburgh University Teaching Awards in November 2016, and how these might help enhance teaching strategies across the University.
Feedback: a road map to success
In June 2016, Keiran Bunting examined the outcomes of a PTAS project investigating which aspects of written feedback were most useful to students. Overall, students appreciated feedback that was forward-looking, highlighting what should be repeated, but also taking a frank approach with how the work could be improved.
Development of graduate attributes in online distance learning students
In this post from August 2017, Gill Aitken discusses how to build graduate attributes (transferable personal and professional skills) into online distance learning courses.
Development of graduate attributes in online distance learning students
If you would like to learn more about the SoTL network, see the publication list, or join us then have a look at the Scholarship of teaching & learning network pages on the IAD website.
Velda McCune is Deputy Director of the IAD and Head of the Learning and Teaching Team. She has oversight of the continuing professional development opportunities which the IAD offers for staff involved in teaching and supporting student learning. An important focus of her work is collaborating with colleagues in Schools and Colleges to take forward research and scholarship relating to teaching and learning in Higher Education.
