Unlocking Greater Possibilities
Our conversations with ISSOTL members made obvious the need to strive for complexity in how we investigate and understand experiences of belonging within the organization and within SoTL more generally. We were struck by how many participants expressed their perspectives and experiences in terms of “both/and”: the idea that two things can simultaneously be true or that two experiences or opinions can co-exist side by side.
Within our project, we noticed the articulation of this “both/and” phenomenon in a few places:
- Participants consistently articulated the centrality of the conference in entering and finding meaning in ISSOTL. This event was, for many, a defining point of engagement and important to their sense of belonging within the organization and SoTL more generally. At the same time, participants noted that it would also be valuable to have more ongoing opportunities supported by ISSOTL outside of the conference. What might ISSOTL offer that amplifies with the spirit of the conference and what it offers members, but on a more frequent basis?
- Participants discussed the benefits of in-person connection at the conference. As evidenced in “Engagement through Participation and Collaboration,” much of their sense of belonging came from conference-related opportunities for engagement and connection. Many participants also described the sense of belonging they have acquired attending the conference on a regular basis and the value in connecting with one’s SoTL colleagues from a range of institutions and geographic locations. At the same time, participants noted that they would enjoy virtual opportunities for connection, both related to and outside of the conference. Some noted that the costs of travelling to an in –person conference can be prohibitive and that a virtual option, while not making available that same in-person connection, could enhance belonging and inclusion in other ways.
- Participants spoke very highly about ISSOTL as an international community of scholars. They admired ISSOTL’s values as an organization that brings together scholars from around the world. In particular, they pointed to the appointment of new regional Vice Presidents for previously unrepresented geographic areas and the fact that the conference travels to a new location each year. At the same time, participants also suggested the need for connections with more local SoTL organizations. While many SoTL experiences transcend borders, there is also a need to recognize and address the differences that geo-political and cultural location make to one’s experiences with the field.
