Hype or Hope: Can the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fulfill Its Promise?

Abstract

Proponents of the scholarship of teaching and learning claim that it holds huge potential to improve teaching in higher education. The viability of this claim is assessed by examining epistemic and educational challenges to the assumptions that underlie prevailing models of SoTL. The assessment indicates that the assumptions are flawed and identifies significant questions about what has been achieved and how to move forward. An alternative model for the scholarship of teaching is proposed.