About the GCs IG

SoTL practitioners study postsecondary teaching and learning to better understand and improve…

1.  how to develop critical and creative thinkers.

Co-facilitators:  Jennifer Dalton and Danielle Gray-Singh

GC1 has completed its first RIPPLE cycle. RIPPLE is an acronym that stands for Reflective Inquiry & Practice for Pedagogical Learning. GC1’s  first RIPPLE cycle began with a framing conversation about how critical and creative thinking are approached across disciplines in SoTL, followed by three article-based discussions that deepened and extended the dialogue. Through this process, participants explored disciplinary differences, practical challenges, and shared strategies for fostering these ways of thinking in teaching and learning. Three themes emerged: the need to balance and intentionally value both critical and creative thinking, the power of interdisciplinary and real-world connections for making learning meaningful, and the role of iterative practice and process in cultivating these skills. Together, these themes highlight both the tensions and opportunities inherent in supporting faculty as reflective, adaptive practitioners. This cycle demonstrated how RIPPLE can create a sustainable, peer-driven space for scholarly engagement and professional growth. 

This initial RIPPLE addressed two ongoing goals of GC1. First, the overall theme of the RIPPLE was focused on conceptualizing critical and creative thinking (CCT) through discussions with interdisciplinary experts to consider integrated conceptual frameworks that reconceptualize critical and creative thinking as interconnected processes within a unified way of thinking. Second, the RIPPLE provided a supportive means for GC1 members to explore existing research on component parts and overlap across the SoTL literature, learn how CCT has been defined and operationalized in various contexts, and explore the relationship between CCT skills development.

2.   how to encourage students to be engaged in learning.

Co-facilitators: Holly Capocchiano and Claire Saunders

Tagging of TLI articles has been completed. We are in the process of finalising an analysis of key themes, which have been shared with the group via a Padlet. We are  generating a discussion around these themes and plan to identify some research questions we might want to explore and blog posts we might write. In the padlet, group members will respond to the following prompts:

1. Please share any work you are already doing that relates to this theme.
2. What kinds of research questions/opportunities for SoTL projects might we consider in relation to this theme? 

3.  the complex processes of learning.

Co-facilitators: Qi Gao and Sara Nasrollahian

We have completed the TLI tagging initiative and created a list of TLI papers with learning as a main theme. 

Our scoping review is in progress. We’ve formed a working group of seven members focused on the following research question, “In what ways has conflict within the classroom been examined to understand its influence on the learning processes of undergraduate students?”  Our goal is to present our findings at the 2026  ISSOTL conference and to co-author a paper for submission to Teaching & Learning Inquiry (TLI).

The larger group periodically convenes to share efforts and to brainstorm other venues to explore learning complexities and SoTL. We are open to the following potential projects for all or some of the group members: 

• A blog series featuring reflections or short videos
• A virtual panel or lightning talk event
• Podcast episodes, either self-produced or in collaboration with existing platforms

4.  how identities affect both teaching and learning.

Co-facilitators: Carol Robinson, Stephanie Spong and Manuela Williams

Our group is working on a qualitative research project investigating educational developers’ conceptualizations of identity. This IRB approved study is currently in the survey distribution phase. (8/15/25)

We are also working on a literature review answering the question “What is known about the impact of student and educator identity on learning in the post-2020 landscape?” The review will be a hybrid review, adopting aspects of both narrative and systematic reviews.

Planned Research Symposium: We will be inviting papers on the topic of GC4. The webinar will be open to all ISSOTL members and the group will also share the opportunity within our local contexts. Call for contributions here (closes 17 November) 

5.  the practice, use, and growth of SoTL.

Co-facilitators: Caterina Presi and Alison Staudinger

SoTL Cafés:  Join members of the Grand Challenges for SoTL Interest Group who work on Grand Challenge 5, “The Practice, Use, and Growth of SoTL,” for our SoTL Cafés!  Come to any of these informal monthly gatherings to chat with colleagues interested in SoTL practices, how SoTL may be used, and/or how to grow SoTL.  Bring your favorite beverage!  At our first SoTL Café, we briefly introduced ourselves and our Grand Challenge, placed ourselves on a map (literally) as we got to know each other, and connected to the practice, use, and growth of SoTL. At our second SoTL Cafe (October 8), we shared and had a great discussion of the article “SoTL in Latin America: Bridging Cultures, Transforming Teaching and Learning.”  (Throughout the year, we will vary the times of these SoTL Cafés to better accommodate different time zones across the world.)

Scoping Review:  Michael Fosmire is leading a scoping review of GC5 in Teaching & Learning Inquiry. This group includes Nancy Chick, Maria Gallardo-Williams, Dilnoza Khasilova, Sophie Lefmann, and Sarah Wackerbarth. The group meets every 2 weeks or so.

Blog Projects:  We have a series of group proposed blog post projects relevant to GC5 at different stages of development. GC5 members have proposed and teamed up to complete them. Members are welcome to propose new idea and seek collaborations to make it happen at any point in time. This project is ongoing.

Administrative Support Group

Co-facilitators: Co-facilitators: Jen Friberg and Lauren Scharff
Members: Nancy Chick, Diana Gregory, Jennie Mills

The administrative group oversees general interest group logistics (e.g. maintaining the website pages, organizing meetings for group facilitators, maintaining shared workspaces, preparing the annual report), each member serves as a liaison for one of the five Grand Challenges, and members lead and participate in events and efforts that pertain to the overarching Grand Challenges. 

Beyond the logistics noted above, in 2024-25, the administrative group led the planning for a workshop and outreach at ISSOTL 2025, Jen Friberg introduced her discipline (Communication Sciences & Disorders) to the Grand Challenges and led efforts for a publication, and Lauren Scharff gave several overview presentations about the Grand Challenges (ISSOTL 24 plenary, talk for the Rocky Mountain Collaboration for Teaching & Learning, SoTL Summit). In 2026 Lauren is scheduled to give the closing plenary for the 10th Annual T4L Conference. Lauren and Jen are currently designing an online workshop to support individuals who are interested in, but have not previously written, blogs related to the Grand Challenges.