The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, often referred to as "SoTL," is a classroom-based research sector in which professors study their teaching practice, and how they can innovate to better meet their students' learning needs. We now have a program to support faculty-led classroom-based research projects at Seneca. Like all research, all it takes to start is an idea!
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning means viewing the world of the classroom as a site for inquiry, asking and answering questions about students' learning in ways that can improve one's own classroom and also advance the larger profession of teaching (Huber & Hutchings, 2005).
Every day, Seneca faculty use cutting edge teaching methods to help their students build and practice foundational skills. A SoTL project can help you study an element of your classroom to understand how to improve your students’ learning and set them up for success in your course and beyond. Teaching and learning at Seneca will be strengthened by this opportunity to try new things and by sharing stories of innovation along the way!
SoTL at Seneca is pleased to announce the 2025 SoTL grants recipients:
Holly Clayton and Alexander Shaw, faculty with the School of English and Liberal Studies, will study the effect of self-paced progression on student achievement, academic stress and self-efficacy in introductory, degree-level psychology courses.
Jamelia Gay, faculty in the School of Early Childhood Education, will design and pilot tools to assist students struggling with cognitive overload and executive functioning challenges in understanding and applying assignment instructions.
Congratulations to our new SoTL researchers and thank you to all applicants for the hard work, thoughtfulness, and reflection on students’ learning needs that went into your proposals.
SoTL CoP meetings are a supportive and inclusive place for thinking about research in teaching and learning, and a way to become involved in the SoTL program. All are welcome.
Meetings will resume in the Fall 2025. Please check back here for dates and meeting links.
Have a wonderful summer and see you in September!
Deadline Detox: The Effect of Self-Paced Progression on Student Achievement, Academic Stress, and Self-Efficacy in Introductory Degree-Level Psychology Courses
Co-investigators: Holly Clayton, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies & Alexander Shaw, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
Reducing Cognitive Overload and Enhancing Executive Function in Assignment Design: A Framework for Inclusive and Equitable Learning
Primary investigator: Jamelia Gay, Professor, School of Early Childhood Education
Microsoft Copilot in Academic Writing Instruction: Effects on Performance and Self-Efficacy in Seneca’s COM101/111 Courses
Primary investigator: Lance Chang, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
Co-investigator: Plamen Kashkiev, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
Online one-on-one video discussion as an alternative evaluation to traditional pen-and-paper, in-person test in Hyflex BSAC Physics course
Primary investigator: Sorina Zota, Professor, School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry
Co-investigator: David Zwick, Professor, School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry
Behavioural immersion: lab school feasibility and design
Primary investigator: Laura Cavanagh, Professor & Program Coordinator, School of Public Safety & Behavioural Studies
Is student groupwork achieving the goals we intend? Identifying the risks and benefits of student groupwork at Seneca and fixing what’s broken.
Primary investigator: Melissa Warner, PhD, Professor, School of Human Resources & Global Business
Do consistency and quality content matter in online learning and do they improve student engagement?
Primary investigator: Mary Sorkhabi, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
Lights, camera, learning? How video cameras and body worn cameras impact behaviour, skill acquisition and retention
Primary investigator: Camie Condon, PhD, Professor & Program Coordinator, School of Public Safety
Co-investigator: Mark Tucci, PhD, Professor, School of Public Safety & Behavioural Studies
Using Trauma-Informed Educational Practices to Foster Resilient College Students
Primary investigator: Roxanne Ramjattan, PhD, Professor, School of Community Mental Health
The impact of scaffolded authentic assessments in Therapeutic Recreation: developing professional knowledge and practical skill in students
Primary investigator: Yvonne Ng-Gerritsen, Professor & Program Coordinator, School of Health Sciences
Beyond the concepts: What faculty need to feel ready to teach sustainability in the classroom – a collaborative inquiry project
Primary investigator: Carmen Schlamb, PhD, Professor, School of English & Liberal Studies
Co-investigator: Nadia Kelton, PhD, Professor, School of Environmental & Civil Engineering Technology
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