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CIRTL @ Ohio State Practitioner

Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning

Overview

Teaching-as-Research (TAR) is a scholarly approach to teaching in which instructors apply research methods deliberately, systematically, and reflectively to improve learning outcomes for both students and educators. Through TAR, instructors investigate questions about teaching and learning in their own classrooms, using evidence to inform and enhance their instructional practices. 

The TAR Learning Community at The Ohio State University supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in designing and implementing a complete TAR project focused on a topic of their choice related to teaching and learning. Participants receive guidance and peer support throughout the process, from project conception to dissemination. 

Participation in the TAR Learning Community also provides a pathway to earning the CIRTL@OSU Practitioner-level teaching endorsement. CIRTL (Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) is a National Science Foundation-funded network of over 40 research universities across the U.S. and Canada. Its mission is to foster excellence in higher education by cultivating a national faculty committed to evidence-based teaching practices that support diverse learners. The CIRTL@OSU endorsement recognizes instructors who engage in reflective, research-informed teaching and are prepared to contribute to scholarly teaching communities. 

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

  • Develop a focused research question around instruction.
  • Find and critically consider the literature and existing knowledge associated with an area of teaching and learning.
  • Find or develop assessment (measurement) tools to collect relevant data for a teaching and learning project.
  • Design a valid study that adequately addresses a focused research question around instruction, considers existing scholarly knowledge on the topic, and incorporates validated assessment tools and analysis techniques. 

Program Requirements

  • Interested participants must first apply and be accepted for enrollment in the CIRTL@OSU Teaching-as-Research Learning Community.
  • Participants must attend at least 80% of all synchronous, virtual sessions of the CIRTL@OSU Teaching-as-Research Learning Community. Ten, 1.5-hour sessions will be scheduled, bimonthly from October to March.
  • Participants must complete the inter-session tasks assigned via CarmenCanvas in between each synchronous session. The estimated time commitment to complete inter-session tasks is 1-hour per session.
  • Participants are required to fully develop a Teaching-as-Research project focusing on an area of teaching and learning.
  • Participants are required to present their Teaching-as-Research project design at a formal teaching and learning conference or event.  
REQUIREMENTDESCRIPTION
Synchronous Meetings 10 meetings throughout Autumn and Spring semesters that participants must attend.
Asynchronous AssignmentsParticipants are assigned tasks to complete following each synchronous meeting.  These tasks include discussion board posts, project component development, literature review, readings, and reflections.
Project DevelopmentParticipants are required to fully develop a Teaching-as-Research project focusing on an area of teaching and learning.  The project must be fully developed and ready for implementation in a relevant instructional context.
Project DisseminationParticipants are required to present their study design at a formal teaching and learning conference or event, such as the Ohio State Academy of Teaching Conference or the CIRTL Network Teaching-as-Research Online Presentation Session.

Verification

The final teaching endorsement application will require you to upload a digital completion of criteria document obtained from the lead facilitator of the TAR Learning Community. 

 

 

Interest Form

Complete an optional contact form.

Teaching Endorsement Application

Submit your final application after completing all criteria.