do you know about predatory journals?
Karen and I have both recently received invitations to submit/review for what we think are likely “predatory journals” (actually, I’m sure mine was!)
When you are looking for a journal to publish in, please be careful and be aware that there are many bogus journals out there. Be sure to check out a journal that you are not familiar with, as to the quality of papers they have published. Other clues include promises of extremely fast reviews, no vetting of reviewer qualifications, and the same editorial board for all journals the publisher publishes. Fortunately, someone has already done much of this work for you. Beall’s list is a comprehensive and evolving (and long!!) list of suspicious publishers, which will be useful for a first step in checking out a journal:
http://scholarlyoa.com/publishers/
As an example, I received an invitation from Higher Education Studies, published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education which is on Beall’s list. I was suspicous before I even checked the list though, because the invitation from the editorial assistant said that after reading one paper of mine, she could “tell from [your] work that [you] are an expert in the field of education”.
Definitely suspicious!
** Update: Beall’s list has been criticized by some for being biased against Open Access. Perhaps the main message should be – be aware!! For more info see Margy’s more recent post here: http://blogs.mtroyal.ca/isotl/2014/03/13/update-on-predatory-journals/
The SoTL Exchange presentation series
The Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is happy to announce a new presentation series, the SoTL Exchange, which will host presentations on a variety of topics intended to facilitate SoTL at MRU. The first presentation of the year will survey the current developments and debates in the wider SoTL community, and invite discussion and feedback about a new “definition” of SoTL for MRU and new Institute initiatives.
SoTL at MRU – What’s next?
Oct 23, 12:0-1:00 in Y324
Both new and experienced faculty interested in engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning are invited to attend. In particular, faculty intending to apply for the 2014 Nexen Scholar’s Program will find the October and November presentations useful.
http://blogs.mtroyal.ca/isotl/2013/09/20/call-for-applications-for-the-2014-nexen-scholars-program-deadline-dec-1/
Save the date – Oct 28 donation announcement
A new online resource for understanding and doing SoTL
https://my.vanderbilt.edu/sotl/
Have a browse through this new online SoTL Guide from Vanderbilt University!
Call for applications for the 2014 Nexen Scholars Program – deadline Dec 1
Mount Royal faculty members (full time & contract) are invited to submit research development proposals for participation in the 2014 Nexen Scholars Program. This program brings together selected faculty committed to working together to develop classroom-based inquiry projects designed to shed light on a significant aspect of student learning, share evidence and findings publicly in an effort to influence teaching in the field, and create a culture of teaching and learning inquiry at Mount Royal and beyond.
Faculty selected as Nexen Scholars will design and undertake an inquiry project in the Fall 2014 and/or Winter 2015 semester aimed at understanding or improving student learning. Note that in the past, this program has only supported projects where scholars were investigating a question related to student learning in their own class. This year, the Institute will also start accepting projects proposals that explore student learning in a collaborator’s class or over multiple classes. In order for such projects to qualify, they must have direct implications for improving the scholar’s teaching practice.
More info here: 2014nexenscholarsrfp
The call for applications for 2013-14 Going Public Awards is now…. public!
Please read this call carefully as there are quite a few changes from previous years, the major ones being:
- application criteria (more reporting upfront, less after)
- application deadlines
- opportunities to apply for disseminating your original Nexen project OR a subsequent inquiry!!
**Note that the application deadline for attending conferences before the end of the year is October 1.
Free article: SoTL Scholars’ Identity Development
The recently published article, Conflicts and Configurations in a Liminal Space: SoTL Scholars’ Identity Development, is the free sample for the 2nd issue of Teaching and Learning Inquiry, so anyone can access this article. MRU’s Karen Manarin is one of the co-authors.
In it, the authors describe how “navigating among conflicting identities can lead us into a troublesome but deeply reflective liminal space, prompting profound realizations and the reconstruction of our academic identities.” Thanks to the authors for helping to normalise the sometimes “unsettling” experience of engaging in SoTL!
Nicola Simmons, Earle Abrahamson, Jessica M. Deshler, Barbara Kensington-Miller, Karen Manarin, Sue Morón-García, Carolyn Oliver and Joanna Renc-Roe
Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal
Vol. 1, No. 2, Special Issue: Writing Without Borders: 2013 International Writing Collaborative / Guest Editors: Mick Healey and Beth Marquis (2013) (pp. 9-21)
Intro to SoTL: Recommended Readings
The ISSoTL13 Online conference is hosting some Intro to SoTL sessions over the next couple of weeks. Here is their website and list of recommended readings:
- Bass, R. (1999). The Scholarship of Teaching: What’s the Problem? Inventio, 1(1).
- Bernstein, D. (2010). Finding Your Place in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 4(2).
- Bernstein, D., & Bass, R. (2005). The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Academe, 91(4), 37-43.
- Bernstein, D., Burnett, A. N., Goodburn, A., & Savory, P. (2006). Making Teaching and Learning Visible: Course Portfolios and the Peer Review of Teaching. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Company.
- Felten, P. (2013). Principles of Good Practice in SoTL. Teaching & Learning Inquiry, 1(1), 121-125.
- Huber, M. T. (2008). The Promise of Faculty Inquiry for Teaching and Learning Basic Skills. Strengthening Pre-Collegiate Education in Community Colleges. Stanford, CA: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
- Huber, M. T., & Morreale, S. P. (2002). Situating the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: A Cross-Disciplinary Conversation. Disciplinary Styles in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Exploring Common Ground. Stanford, CA: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
- Hutchings, P. (2000). Introduction: Approaching the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Opening Lines: Approaches to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Stanford, CA: Carnegie Foundation.
- Hutchings, P. (2000). Opening Lines: Approaches to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Stanford, CA: Carnegie Foundation.
- Hutchings, P., & Shulman, L. (1999). The Scholarship of Teaching: New Elaborations, New Developments. Change, 31(5), 10-15.
- InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching. Volume 8 (2013): Scholarly Teaching and Learning. [Includes an editorial by Pat Hutchings and several SoTL-related articles.]
- McKinney, K. (2004). The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Past Lessons, Current Challenges, and Future Visions. To Improve the Academy, 22, 3-19.
- McKinney, K. (2012). Increasing the Impact of SoTL: Two Sometimes Neglected Opportunities. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 6(1).
- McKinney, K., & Chick, N. (2010). SoTL as Women’s Work: What do Existing Data Tell Us? International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 4(2).
- Shulman, L. (1993). Teaching as a Community Property: Putting an End to Pedagogical Solitude. Change, 25(6).
- Shulman, L. (1999). Taking Learning Seriously. Change, 31(4), 10-17.
- Shulman, L. (2011). The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: A Personal Account and Reflection. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 5(1).
- Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal.
Vol. 1 No. 2 of Teaching and Learning Inquiry is out!
I’m looking forward to reading this new issue which features articles by the “International Writing Groups”, organized as part of ISSoTL 2012. In particular, there are 3 articles to which Mount Royal scholars have contributed:
Conflicts and Configurations in a Liminal Space: SoTL Scholars’ Identity Development(pp. 9-21)
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/teachlearninqu.1.2.9
Being Ethically Minded: Practising the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in an Ethical Manner(pp. 23-32)
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/teachlearninqu.1.2.23
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/teachlearninqu.1.2.49
Community of Practice: Furthering your SoTL Research
Michelle Yeo has agreed to help facilitate a CoP for us this academic year on “furthering your SoTL research”. Communities of practice are groups whose members “share a passion for something they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better” (Wenger, 2006). All SoTL Scholars who are interested in continuing their SoTL scholarship are invited to attend, but must be able to commit to the fall meeting times. If you are interested but can’t make the times, let us know and we will find a way to keep you posted on our discussions.
Fall meeting times:
Fridays, 2:00-3:30
Sept 27, Oct 18, Nov 1, Nov 15, Dec 6
Room TBA
If you’re wondering exactly what this group might want to talk about, well, that will be for the group to decide in its first meeting. Some possibilities include placing your research within a theoretical framework, and/or developing a line of research, and/or [insert your idea here!]
Please email Anne by Friday Sept 13 if you are interested.