The 4M framework as analytic lens for SoTL’s impact: A study of seven scholars

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) encompasses research on postsecondary teaching and learning across all disciplines. Why do scholars engage in the study of teaching and learning? What supports and challenges do they encounter? What is the impact of SoTL? Using a micro-meso-macro-mega (4M) framework, I explore these questions in interviews with seven SoTL scholars from various disciplines in one institution. Primarily, this article provides a case study illustration of the use of the micro-meso-macro-mega framework to explore SoTL. In addition to exploring participants’ reflections vis-à-vis the four levels, I reflect on possible connections to motivation theory as a lens for themes arising from the participants’ accounts of supports and barriers and the impact of their SoTL work.

Shroomroot: An Action-Based Digital Game to Enhance Postsecondary Teaching and Learning about Mycorrhizae

The majority of terrestrial plants associate with fungi in symbiotic resource-exchange relationships called mycorrhizae. Because of the importance of these mycorrhizal systems to ecosystem functioning, it is crucial that future resource managers and scientists have a solid understanding of mycorrhizal ecology. Limited interest of postsecondary students in plants and fungi compared with animals, combined with difficulties visualizing below-ground processes, present challenges for learning mycorrhizal concepts. To address this, we created the digital, plant-ecology-centric, action-based game Shroomroot for use in a second year, postsecondary Introduction to Soil Science course. We then assessed effects of Shroomroot on students’ knowledge acquisition and engagement with the topic of mycorrhizal ecology using a pre- and post-test evaluation. Students’ knowledge of mycorrhizal ecology increased significantly after playing Shroomroot, and tended to increase more for items related to Shroomroot gameplay than in rewards-based game content. Student engagement with mycorrhizal content tended to increase after gameplay. These results suggest positive potential for action-based, plant-ecology-oriented digital games in a postsecondary science curriculum. Furthermore, greater understanding of mycorrhizae has the potential to improve our multifaceted relationships with the ecosystems upon which we depend.

Crossing Thresholds: Identifying conceptual transitions in postsecondary teaching

In this paper we report on research we conducted to begin the process of identifying threshold concepts in the field of postsecondary teaching. Meyer & Land (2006) propose that within all disciplinary fields there seem to be particular threshold concepts that serve as gateways, opening up new and previously inaccessible ways of thinking and practicing. We developed a series of questions focusing on the “troublesome” and “transformative” characteristics of threshold concepts and asked these questions of several constituent groups, including those who are new to practice and the body of knowledge in postsecondary teaching and those who are already knowledgeable and/or experienced in the field. Based on our interpretation of participants’ responses, we identified four recognized concepts in the field of postsecondary teaching as potential threshold concepts in this field: Assessment for/as learning; Learning-centred teaching; Accommodation for diversity; and, Context-driven practice. Our findings suggest that threshold concepts are relevant to the field of postsecondary teaching. Through this work, we hope to help educational developers and faculty members consider what is involved in learning to teach and developing teaching expertise, and to encourage critical discussion about the teaching development “curriculum” in postsecondary settings. Threshold concepts arise as a field develops and are defined as practitioners and scholars in the field define their field. At this stage, we believe the real value of threshold concepts for postsecondary teaching lies in the discussion that arises in the process of identifying and naming the concepts. Cet article se penche sur le développement de l’enseignement post-secondaire à partir des concepts de seuil. Meyer et Land (2006) suggèrent qu’au sein de tous les champs disciplinaires, il semble y avoir des concepts particuliers qui servent de passerelles et qui ouvrent la voie à de nouvelles manières de penser et de pratiquer jusque là inaccessibles. Les concepts de seuil représentent une manière transformée de comprendre ou de regarder les choses, sans laquelle l’apprenant ne peut pas progresser dans ce champ. Cette vision transformée peut refléter les valeurs de la discipline ou encore résumer la manière dont les experts dans cette discipline abordent les problèmes. Dans cet article, nous présentons un rapport sur notre tentative d’identifier les concepts de seuil en enseignement post-secondaire. Grâce à ces travaux, nous espérons faire avancer les connaissances en enseignement et en apprentissage et aider les conseillers pédagogiques et les professeurs d’université à prendre en considération ce qui est impliqué dans l’apprentissage de l’enseignement. Nous souhaitons également encourager la discussion critique sur la préparation des programmes d’études de l’enseignement et montrer comment s’y prendre pour aider les autres à apprendre comment enseigner dans un milieu post-secondaire. Nous sommes impatients de partager nos résultats préliminaires et espérons engager d’autres personnes dans ce processus d’identification.