The Practice
Pedagogic research (PedRes) is a key component of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). PedRes can be broadly defined as ‘the undertaking of a systematic study into aspects of teaching and learning within your own classroom or department, with results placed in the context of the broader literature to add to the body of knowledge’. PedRes has benefits for the educator themselves (e.g. job satisfaction and career progression), the learners (e.g. evidence-based innovations in teaching), and the institutional reputation.
In 2023-24 (https://bilt.online/pedagogic-research-culture/), a BILT-funded project team explored the literature relating to pedagogic research in the UK and undertook a survey of the pedagogic research culture and practice landscape at the University of Bristol. Among the recommendations from the project were the:
- Establishment of a central University of Bristol hub for pedagogic research information and support, including pedagogic research design, dissemination, and funding
- Enhanced pedagogic research training opportunities for all staff
The new 2024-25 BILT project team were funded to implement these recommendations, namely the:
- Development of an online, central “hub” for Pedagogic Research information and support that is available to all University of Bristol staff
Development of pedagogic research training materials that are accessible to all staff, with a particular focus on the development needs identified in the 2023-24 project.
Findings
The team has updated the BILT SoTL and PedRes web-pages. We have developed a curated, searchable spreadsheet which provides information relating to school and faculty SOTL groups as well as lists of potential funding opportunities, conference and journals for pedagogic research.
To enhance the pedagogic research training offering available to University staff, the project team has developed and piloted a series of three asynchronous online modules and an accompanying in-person workshop that support colleagues taking their “first steps” in pedagogic research. The self-paced training modules will be hosted on Develop and will be launched in October 2025.
The contents of the modules and workshop are outlined in the table below; each module aligns with a staff development need identified by the 2023-24 BILT project survey.
Series Title: First Steps in Pedagogic Research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the University of Bristol
| Module 1: A Guide to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Pedagogic Research | Gain an understanding of what “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning” and “Pedagogic Research” are Identify the steps required in the setting up of a pedagogic research project Learn about common approaches to pedagogic research design including quantitative and qualitative methods, and be directed to additional resources to gain in-depth knowledge of these methods. Gain insight into common ethical considerations and processes to carry out your pedagogic research Create an initial draft of your pedagogic research proposal |
| Module 2: The How-To of Funding Your Pedagogic Research | Identify and explore potential funding sources for your pedagogic research project Learn about the perspectives and expectations of different funders Identify the information required for funding applications Draft your funding application (using your research proposal from module 1) |
| Module 3: The Impact of your Pedagogic Research | Learn the importance of disseminating your research results, and demonstrating the impact of your pedagogic research Identify outlets such as journals, conferences and blogs for disseminating pedagogic research within your discipline Review examples of blogs, conference abstracts and journal articles relevant to pedagogic research in your discipline Identify strategies for demonstrating and writing up your pedagogic research’s impact |
| Workshop: Developing a pedagogic research proposal (participants are asked to have undertaken modules 1-3 before attending the workshop) | Review the six stages of a research project Tips for identifying and refining your research question Opportunity to work on your research proposal with support from colleagues |
Activities during the year
The pedagogic research training resources were piloted by colleagues from across the University at a BILT Show-and-Tell event, a workshop at the BILT annual conference, and an initial iteration of the in-person workshop: ‘Developing a pedagogic research proposal’. The 2024-25 project team have also worked closely with Fiona Hartley, Lecturer in Academic Development based within BILT, who is developing a series of “Next Steps” modules providing more information on ethics, qualitative and quantitative methods, and use of educational theories in research.
Next Steps
The team has been joined by additional members for a BILT-funded project in 2025-26 and will be working together to deliver the following aims:
- Launch and evaluation of the “First steps” modules (i.e., modules 1-3) and accompanying workshop across the institution
- Work with the BILT team to launch and evaluate the “Next Steps” modules
- Develop proposals for accessible, formal training in pedagogic research (e.g. MRes, PhD) for colleagues within the University
- Identify routes to enhancing support for SoTL within schools and faculties, including piloting use of an evidence-based framework for supporting and developing aspiring curriculum leaders within schools.
Contact
Sheena.Warman@bristol.ac.uk
Authors:
Sheena Warman, Sally Dowling, Rachael Miles, Thomas Sealy, Annika Johnson, Daniela Losada Medina
