How do I get started doing SoTL work?
A. Research into teaching and learning issues is no different than research on any other topic. You begin by asking a significant question (or identifying a teaching/learning problem for inquiry). Once you have identified a potential question/problem, then it is important to examine the research on this topic that has preceded your inquiry so that you can build upon it. Next, based on your literature review, you identify the specific question(s) you wish to investigate, design a study to investigate the question(s), and select a research method that allows you to gather the data necessary to answer your question/problem. When the data has been gathered, you analyze the results, and draw conclusions based on the data. These conclusions are the answer to your question, or the solution to your teaching/learning problem. Often these conclusions lead you to other questions in this domain. As with any research, it is then important to present your results for public scrutiny and peer review.
