Skip to main content

Getting Started with a SoTL Project at Rutgers

Red and white puzzle pieces.

Starting small with a well-focused question (go to this page to learn more) about your students’ learning can lead to meaningful insights and connections with fellow instructors across disciplines. Whether you have questions about research design, data collection methods, or simply want to discuss your teaching experiences, we welcome your voice and perspective.

First Time Getting Started?

If this is your first time getting started on a research project at Rutgers, there are a few steps you’ll want to make sure you take to make the process easier:

  • Set up a one-on-one meeting with Crystal Quillen, Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning Scholarship. She can help you think about your research idea and come up with a research plan to help you get started.
  • Anyone who is looking to conduct research at Rutgers needs to obtain a CITI Certificate for Social and Behavioral Research Basic (Rutgers NetID required). The certification class teaches you how to do ethical research, protect human subjects, and promote research integrity.
  • The Institutional Review Board at Rutgers “ensures the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects.” Most SoTL research is minimal risk and is an exempt review; however, it still requires IRB approval. We recommend that you log in to the Rutgers eIRB+ and familiarize yourself with that page.
    • Things to initially keep in mind: Your research personnel, developing your consent form for participants, and choosing your data gathering instruments.
  • Set up a Rutgers Qualtrics account if you are going to be creating a survey. You can also use Google Forms through ScarletMail.

Need More Support from SoTL Researchers at Rutgers?

Teachers and students collaborting with caption "Rutgers SoTL Network".

The SoTL Faculty Affinity Network offers a welcoming space to connect with colleagues around the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Together, we can exchange ideas, reflect on our teaching, and support one another in exploring new approaches. It’s a place to recharge and carry fresh inspiration into your work. To join, create an account at the Rutgers Chronus website and click the “Join” button for the FAN.

Want to know what other Rutgers – New Brunswick Faculty are working on? Visit our Rutgers – New Brunswick SoTL Spotlight page.

See all of our upcoming events at TIIP!

Here’s a video from Gary Poole, Emeritus Scholar from the University of British Columbia and past-President of ISSoTL discussing why it is important to talk to other people about SoTL and to get involved.