Keynotes

Embarking on journeys of enquiry, in whatever form they take, represents a time of wonder, a time of exploration, a time of discovery – but it can also represent a time of uncertainty, a time of puzzlement, a time of struggle and indeed even a time of hopelessness. This is in no way surprising – any of us engaged in enquiry know that it is an effortful process that involves toil and an investment, not just of time, but of our emotional labour. Enquiry can take many forms and none of these are value-free or judgement-free. The academy is full of conversations about the ‘proper’ forms of enquiry and in these conversations Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is frequently characterised as representative of a form of enquiry that is less valued, less valid, and indeed, often just “less”! Against this backdrop, how do we ensure that we retain our commitment, energy and drive for our enquiries in SoTL? By framing our journeys in SoTL as representing movement in and out of liminal spaces that are frequently uncertain and mysterious, we can start to think about who and what might guide our enquiries and help to guard SoTL as a form of enquiry. Similarly, we can reflect on who the ‘tricksters’ might be and when guardians might actually become obstacles to enquiry.

Concluding a conference “expedition” is an opportunity to consider how we perform closing scenes along our Teaching & Learning chapters and stories: as we pack our bags and fold away new memories, we treasure insights gained and relationships forged… We thank our hosts and traveling companions, rejoice in the gift of joint presence, and reflect with gratitude: How did we get here, and where are we going? Who has and will come with us? What moments will continue to resonate? How are they now informing our past, how will they accompany us into our future? Whether liberatory in its transitory and ephemeral nature, or grounding in its long-lasting influence; whether meeting set expectations intended to achieve intended outcomes, or resulting from fortuitous and unexpected connections – each encounter is a precious addition to we are and who we are becoming.

In performing as our closing ritual, this keynote offers an invitation into dialogue about:
How Are We Growing Together In SoTL Expeditions?
How represents multiple paths of practice and inquiry –
Are harkens presence across diverse ways of being and knowing –
We reminds us to strive for positional awareness and critically engage with difference –
Grow invites us to radically embrace our constant states of emergence, development, liminality, and transformation –
-ing activates our agency, our potential for live mobilization, creative disruption, and embodied action –
Together signifies limitless meanings of human relatedness in shared experience, the multiple ways we seek, see, channel, amplify, and love each other by reciprocally extending our learning edges –
In reflects on belonging and mattering, pointing to the complexity, saliency, and permeability of inside/outside boundaries around our sense of self, our communities, our cultures, our languages, and our spheres of influence –
SoTL Expeditions evoke curiosity that never settles on certainties; they ignite our courage to imagine beyond, cross borders, dismantle barriers, translate at intersections, build confidence through exposure and vulnerability, and negotiate between patience and urgency to move forward… – as we joyfully explore the world we are co-creating, and discover the journey as we perform it into existence.