Educational Research in Action

Educational Research in Action is a community of educators who are committed to advancing evidence-based teaching and learning. We are trying to support our faculty and GE with educational research skills to support their exploration of systemic inquiries to teaching. This group welcomes different approaches from Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to Discipline-Based Educational Research (DBER) where we can do research about student learning and inform instructional practices at the University of Oregon, which is aligns with our strategic goals. 

What is the definition of Educational Research?

AERA (American Educational Research Asssociations) define it as "Education research is the scientific field of study that examines education and learning processes and the human attributes, interactions, organizations, and institutions that shape educational outcomes. Scholarship in the field seeks to describe, understand, and explain how learning takes place throughout a person’s life and how formal and informal contexts of education affect all forms of learning. Education research embraces the full spectrum of rigorous methods appropriate to the questions being asked and also drives the development of new tools and methods. " AERA Website

We aim to: 

• Support faculty and graduate instructors in conducting meaningful, research-informed educational studies by providing theme-based skill building workshops
• Create spaces for collaborative discussions and knowledge-sharing on effective teaching strategies and develop a sense of community.
• Provide access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities for faculty and graduate students interested in educational research. 

We Offer 

• Workshops: Interactive sessions that introduce key concepts, skills, methodologies.
• Research Community & Networking: Opportunities to connect with peers and mentors engaged in educational research.
• Consultations & Project Support: Guidance on research design, data collection. 

Join the Conversation Teaching deserves more appreciation and support. We are hoping to bring educational research methods into your teaching to improve your teaching, help you write about your teaching, and not only improve your skills as a teacher, but also share your research with others.  Whether you are new to educational research or looking to deepen your engagement, we welcome all faculty and graduate students to contribute their perspectives and expertise. 

Questions? Please contact Ali Söken (alisoken@uoregon.edu)

How to use this for TEAMS Group

What is Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)?

The Scholarship of Teaching of Learning (SoTL) involves faculty undertaking systematic inquiry about student learning – informed by prior scholarship on teaching and learning – and going public with the results. As Pat Hutchings notes, SoTL involves “faculty bringing their habits and skills as scholars to their work as teachers… habits of asking questions, gathering evidence of all different kinds, drawing conclusions or raising new questions, and bringing what they learn through that to… students’ learning.”  Source