{"id":622,"date":"2026-09-08T20:35:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.shu.ac.uk\/sotl\/?p=622"},"modified":"2026-09-08T20:35:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:35:22","slug":"bringing-your-sotl-and-development-activity-together-the-pentagon-of-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.shu.ac.uk\/sotl\/bringing-your-sotl-and-development-activity-together-the-pentagon-of-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing your\u00a0SoTL\u00a0and Development Activity Together: The Pentagon of Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bringing your\u00a0SoTL\u00a0and Development Activity Together: The Pentagon of Practice<\/h1>\n
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\"SoTL@SHU<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Introduction<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Engaging in\u00a0SoTL\u00a0activity and considering the other expectations around staff development can feel\u00a0exciting whilst at the same time, a\u00a0little\u00a0daunting\u00a0or\u00a0overwhelming.\u00a0\u00a0You will\u00a0likely have\u00a0an array of ideas or activities to develop around your practice\u00a0but are\u00a0perhaps unsure\u00a0where to start.\u00a0\u00a0Here, we\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0that through careful planning and design, the various elements of\u00a0SoTL\u00a0activity and other areas of\u00a0your\u00a0development can be brought together in what we are calling\u00a0The Pentagon of Practice<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon of Practice<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon of Practice\u00a0(See Figure 1)\u00a0encompasses five elements that all teaching academics will be familiar with in their everyday practice,\u00a0reflection\u00a0and\u00a0development.\u00a0\u00a0In aligning the various\u00a0activities,\u00a0it can feel a lot more achievable.\u00a0For example, looking at\u00a0evidence\u00a0to inform practice, designing evaluations and improvements to practice,\u00a0and then\u00a0developing these for your own portfolio\u00a0of\u00a0impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five key areas are:\u00a0Performance and Development Review (PDR)<\/a>,\u00a0Peer Review and Enhancement (PRE)<\/a>,\u00a0Evidence,\u00a0SoTL<\/a>,\u00a0and the final category is\u00a0Recognition<\/a>\u00a0including Recognising\u00a0Teaching Excellence (previously TALENT)\/National Teaching Fellow\/Associate Professor\/Professor.\u00a0\u00a0So how do all of these connect together?\u00a0\u00a0With the support of your line manager and School\/Institute Leadership Teams\u00a0you can be guided to develop your\u00a0own\u00a0Pentagon of Practice\u00a0which can\u00a0be seen as a complete package.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does it work?<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0your\u00a0PDR<\/strong>, discuss\u00a0and\u00a0identify\u00a0priorities for development around learning and teaching\u00a0as you set your\u00a0objectives\u00a0for the academic year.\u00a0\u00a0Take into consideration\u00a0what\u00a0evidence<\/strong>\u00a0tells you about your students \u2013 this could be from\u00a0your own evaluations and course development plans; external\u00a0quality assurance;\u00a0the\u00a0Source<\/a>;\u00a0looking at local priorities such as the\u00a0Access and Participation Plan<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0this year\u2019s suggested focus of\u00a0student\u00a0voice<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0This will help you\u00a0determine\u00a0a theme for your Pentagon of Practice.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your PRE<\/strong> activity, decide with your colleague(s) what you will focus on following a theme identified from the PDR and data gathered so far so you are developing a golden thread to your development.  For your SoTL<\/strong> activity, again this can be connected to the same theme giving you time to undertake your own projects and evaluations.  SoTL activity should align with your choices of developing activity to improve student experience based on evidence.  The final strand to pull together your evidence towards your development is in creating your case studies for recognition at a level of AdvanceHE Fellowship and\/or National Teaching Fellow and aligns with the Academic Careers Framework<\/a>.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1: The Pentagon of Practice\u00a0(Kellock, 2026)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pentagon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For example, as Course Leader, BA(Hons) Spells and Potions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n