OER Success at John Jay
SoTL Publication Tips

SoTL Publication Tips

SoTL Publication Questions

  1. What is your topic of interest for your potential SoTL study? 
  2. Why is this topic important to YOU in terms of who you are as a teacher and your own teaching philosophy? 
  3. What data source(s) might help you address your SoTL question? 
  4. What will you do with those data?

Expanding on Key SoTL Publication Questions

  1. What is the audience for your study? Might there be more than one? 
  2. How might you share the outcomes of your work? 
  3. If you choose to submit your work to a disciplinary journal, what is your best option? Why?
  4. What resources do you need to support your work on this study? 

Reference: A New Approach (for me!) to the “Intro to SoTL” Experience. (2022, May 31). The SoTL Advocate. https://illinoisstateuniversitysotl.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/a-new-approach-for-me-to-the-intro-to-sotl-experience/

SoTL Publication Tips

  1. Think of ways your SoTL work can appeal to a broad readership. While your research might be in one discipline, there are ways to write your manuscript to be inclusive and applicable to other fields of study. Broad disciplinary appeal adds to publishability.
  2. Carefully consider the evidence you present in your study in data-based SoTL work. While data can be quantitative , qualitative or a mix of the two, data should clearly provide evidence for readers to consider which provides novel insights into teaching and/or learning.
  3. Share your work with peers prior to submitting to a journal for consideration. Provide them with the mission and specific criteria for publication for the journal you plan to target for publication. Request feedback and consider making improvements to maximize the flow, content, and style based on feedback you receive.

Reference: Publishing SoTL Work: Directions for the Future and Tips for the Present. (2014, November 3). The SoTL Advocate. https://illinoisstateuniversitysotl.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/publishing-sotl-work-directions-for-the-future-and-tips-for-the-present/

More tips from the experts

For more answers to key SoTL questions, check out this webpage: What makes a quality SOTL publication? As well as the associated panel discussion on which it’s based.