The International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 

About: The International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Scholarship of Teaching and Learning & Teaching method. Over the lifetime, 550 publications have been published receiving 8231 citations.

Effects of Inquiry-Based Learning on Students' Science Literacy Skills and Confidence.

Abstract: Calls for reform in university education have prompted a movement from teacher- to student-centered course design, and included developments such as peer-teaching, problem and inquiry-based learning. In the sciences, inquiry-based learning has been widely promoted to increase literacy and skill development, but there has been little comparison to more traditional curricula. In this study, we demonstrated greater improvements in students’ science literacy and research skills using inquiry lab instruction. We also found that inquiry students gained self-confidence in scientific abilities, but traditional students’ gain was greater ‐likely indicating that the traditional curriculum promoted over-confidence. Inquiry lab students valued more authentic science exposure but acknowledged that experiencing the complexity and frustrations faced by practicing scientists was challenging, and may explain the widespread reported student resistance to inquiry curricula.

Academic Analytics and Data Mining in Higher Education

Abstract: The emerging fields of academic analytics and educational data mining are rapidly producing new possibilities for gathering, analyzing, and presenting student data. Faculty might soon be able to use these new data sources as guides for course redesign and as evidence for implementing new assessments and lines of communication between instructors and students. This essay links the concepts of academic analytics, data mining in higher education, and course management system audits and suggests how these techniques and the data they produce might be useful to those who practice the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Book Review: Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning: Theory, Research, and Applications by Edited by Dale H. Schunk and Barry J. Zimmerman (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2008)

Abstract: Excerpt: Understanding self-regulated learning is essential in today’s academic and social world, and this handbook is a keeper for developers, faculty, and students. As learning moves through its various levels and depths, relevance is essential. Though teachers are trained in content, many are not supported in the dynamics of how to help students move toward the intrinsic or self-regulated end of the motivational continuum. Because it is impossible to separate successful learning from healthy development, learning is enhanced as students become in charge of their learning by being supported in autonomy as well as the development of academic competencies.

The "Facebook" Effect: College Students' Perceptions of Online Discussions in the Age of Social Networking.

Abstract: Despite the growing prominence of Facebook in the lives of college students, few studies have investigated the potential of these innovative web-based communication tools for engaging students in academic discussions. This study used a pre-test, post-test design in two introductory-level courses at a large public university to compare students’ (n = 107) perceptions of, attitudes toward, and perceived learning associated with two different online discussion tools: the Facebook group forum and a university-sponsored online tool. Although pre-course surveys indicated that few students enjoyed online discussions, postcourse analysis revealed significant changes in students’ opinions regarding the value and functionality of web-based discussion forums, with Facebook as their clear preference. Students who participated in Facebook discussions enjoyed the site’s familiarity, navigability, and aesthetically appealing interface. Facebook users also reported that they were able to become better acquainted with classmates, felt like valued participants in the course, and learned more course material. This study suggests that, if used appropriately, Facebook may help to increase college student engagement in certain learning contexts by cultivating classroom community and stimulating intellectual discourse.

Instructor Presence in Online Courses and Student Satisfaction

Abstract: This case study explores the role of the online instructor and how they influence student satisfaction. While there has been a substantial body of literature on what impacts on student satisfaction when students study online, there is far less literature focussing on how the instructor mediates this satisfaction, in particular satisfaction related to quality of feedback and teaching. This case study addresses this gap by exploring the performance of two instructors across six fully online courses in a post graduate managerial leadership course. Course evaluation data (quantitative and qualitative) frequency and content of instructor postings, and social network maps were considered in exploring what influenced student satisfaction with feedback and quality of teaching in a fully online unit. The outcomes of the case study corroborate with what is beginning to appear in the literature, that is, the central role the instructor plays in influencing student satisfaction. The importance of teaching and social presence, driven by the instructor, appears to be an important factor driving learning quality. This has implications for recruitment and retention as well as for training and development of online instructors.