2023 Conference - Investigate, inquire, innovate: exploring research-informed teaching practice

About the conference

The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference took place on 27-28 June 2023.

Day 1 (27 June) was held at Nucleus, King’s Buildings campus, with opportunities to watch online. The day focussed on keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, paper presentations, walkshops, exhibitor stands, poster pitches, and opportunities to network.

Day 2 (28 June) took place online. This day showcased keynote talks, paper presentations, panel discussions, workshops, short talks and storytelling.

Keynote speakers

• Professor Heather McQueen, Professor of Biology Education, University of Edinburgh, and students, Sophie Luc and Jessica O’Loughlin
• Dr Irma Meijerman, Principal Fellow of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning, Utrecht University
• Professor Gert Biesta, Professor of Educational Theory and Pedagogy, University of Edinburgh
• Barbara Becnel, PhD Candidate, Social Justice Activist and Author, The University of Edinburgh

Theme and sub-themes

The theme for the 2023 Conference was ‘Scholarship of Teaching and Learning SoTL (SoTL)’. While the definition of SoTL has a somewhat contested history, for the purpose of this Conference, we understand SoTL as thinking, talking, reading, and writing about our learning and teaching in a thoughtful way. Sub-themes were:

1. Research-informed teaching: How have you used educational research to improve your practice? Submissions could include examples of how educational research is used to inform or improve teaching practices and methods of inquiry. This could be data-driven (e.g., learning analytics) or theory-driven (e.g., conceptual theories). You do not need to have necessarily conducted your own research or collected original data. 
2. Innovation and creativity in teaching: Have you been motivated to do something different than what has been done before to inform or improve your teaching practice?  Submissions could include examples of innovative and creative approaches, with a focus on the outcome of the inquiry (e.g., developing new pedagogies; ways of teaching) or a focus on the process of the inquiry (e.g., new methodologies). 
3. Partnership: How can we learn from partnerships? Submissions could include reflections or research on engaging in collaboration and partnership to improve teaching methods, practice, and methods of inquiry. This could include partnerships with students, industry, community organisations, colleagues from other disciplines, or professional services; and can include examples of co-research. 
4. SoTL case studies: Have you conducted a case study of learning and teaching scholarship within a disciplinary or inter-disciplinary context? Submissions should show the whole process of inquiry, including data collection, methods, and findings. 

2023 conference recordings

Please visit the conference Media Hopper playlist below to access the Conference recordings. EASE log-in required. 

Learning and Teaching Conference 2023 channel