Centre for the Advancement of the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

About Us

The Centre for the Advancement of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) facilitates and expands the scholarship of discovery related to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Using a more structured, coordinated and cohesive manner, the Centre will maximize the collective strengths of the Faculty of Community Services (FCS). The Centre focuses on integrating the current teaching and learning focused scholarly activities of FCS faculty members. It will also identify opportunities for collaboration and development of scholarly initiatives focused on teaching and learning in support of professional preparation to advance community service and enhance funding opportunities in support of collaborative SoTL projects.

Broad Outcomes of Centre

• The development of the Centre will facilitate and expand the scholarship of discovery related to SOTL in a more structured, coordinated, and cohesive manner that will maximize the collective strengths of the Faculty of Community Services (FCS)
• Moreover, the Centre will help attract new and emerging scholars, graduate students, as well as collaborators from within Ryerson University and beyond. We anticipate that the Centre will also positively position us to obtain external funding to support scholarly initiatives that will expand partnerships and/or generate new knowledge on SOTL within the context of community service.
• SOTL research attention will also be directed to the development of innovative curricula and the evaluation of existing and new teaching and learning practices aimed at supporting professional preparation and partnership to advance community service.  Curricula within all FCS schools are considered to be inclusive of professional practice and partnerships.

Centre Objectives

• Established research opportunities for RAs and new emerging scholars
• Active participation in ISSOTL and/or STHLE conferences and activities
  Membership as participant in Carnegie Leadership Program
• Centre  website
• Submitted application for SSHRC funding
• Active Advisory Board comprised of Professional Partners and FCS alumni
• Established research networks, locally and nationally
• Submission of abstract related to Centre activities to peer reviewed journal
• Hosting of the Carnegie Building Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Communities International meeting, May, 2008.

Long Term (>3 years)

• Active in national and international activities related to SoTL
• Secured external funding
• Dissemination of research and other Centre SoTL initiatives and outcomes
  International research networks