New book: The SoTL Guide – showing the way towards developing teaching

A guide for both new and experienced teachers

The SoTL Guide is aimed at both newcomers and experienced practitioners within SoTL and clearly describes how to design and carry out your own development project in teaching. It covers the entire process – from the first ideas to how results can be shared with others. The authors emphasise that SoTL is more than a project; it is a long-term commitment to the development of both teaching and learning.

Focus on collegial development

A central theme in the book is the importance of “going public” with one’s insights. By sharing experiences, teachers can contribute to collective development and strengthen the quality of higher education.

The book has already received praise from international educational leaders. Pat Hutchings describes it as “a gift from the field to the field”, highlighting its blend of experience, historical overview, and future-oriented perspectives.

Ethics, community and justice at the forefront

Oscar Jerez Yañez also stresses the book’s strong ethical foundation. He argues that it reminds us that the deeper purpose of SoTL is to foster meaning, dignity, and societal benefit – and that it especially resonates with teachers in the Global South working towards more just educational practices.

A resource for teachers wishing to strengthen their practice

Kasturi Behari‑Leak describes the book as “an indispensable support” for teachers who want to work in research‑informed ways and contribute to the development of higher education through curiosity, care, and collegial learning.

The SoTL Guide is available digitally and in print

The book is published in collaboration with Parlor Press and is available both in print and as an ePub.

Link to the book: https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/books/the-sotl-guide/

Full reference:
Chick, Nancy L., Peter Felten, and Katarina Mårtensson. 2025. The SoTL Guide: (Re)Orienting the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Elon, NC: Elon University Center for Engaged Learning.