What is Teaching-as-Research (TAR)?

Teaching-as-Research, or TAR, is an approach that helps you think about your teaching in a new way by turning questions, challenges, or moments of curiosity in your teaching context into something you can explore more intentionally using evidence (data). It invites you to approach your teaching with the same curiosity and intentionality you bring to your research.

Conducting a TAR project is an opportunity to use your disciplinary research skills to develop a research question related to teaching and propose a project that would allow you to investigate this question with a class you are teaching or a TA for, or a data set available through your department or other university offices or departments. These projects can be small or large scale and can help you develop your reflective teaching skills. A project is also a great talking point on a resume, CV, or in a job interview. If you are close to graduating and will not be able to implement a project, the work of designing and proposing a project is still a worthwhile endeavor. 

CIRTL participants at Iowa can engage in TAR via our workshop series, which takes place every semester, and earn their practitioner level certification.

TAR Workshop Series

The TAR Series is a set of six workshops designed to support graduate students and postdoctoral participants in engaging in reflective teaching while developing a TAR study of their own. Throughout the series, you will be guided through the process of designing a study, from identifying a teaching question to turning it into a plan for gathering evidence. Participants do not carry out their study during the series. Instead, you will leave with a proposed TAR study design that you could choose to pursue in the future. Along the way, you will have opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, and receive feedback while learning with peers.