Theme Overview

There is no one path into SoTL. And that’s what makes this a powerful community.

Some of us arrived through educational development roles. Others came through our classrooms, our research, or our frustration with traditional academic expectations. Many of us didn’t even know what SoTL was when we started doing it. Yet, in these stories, we see how people are drawn in by values like curiosity, care, and the desire to make teaching and learning better—both for ourselves and for others.

SoTL isn’t a destination. For many of us, it isn’t the logical conclusion of our academic journeys. Rather, it’s a set of principles and relationships. ISSOTL becomes meaningful for SoTL scholars when it embraces the many ways people find their way into the work and helps to stoke their curiosity and enthusiasm.