{"id":672,"date":"2026-09-29T21:40:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.shu.ac.uk\/sotl\/?p=672"},"modified":"2026-09-30T08:07:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T07:07:19","slug":"starting-small-thinking-big-students-as-partners-and-the-4m-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.shu.ac.uk\/sotl\/starting-small-thinking-big-students-as-partners-and-the-4m-framework\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting Small, Thinking Big: Students as Partners and the 4M Framework"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting Small, Thinking Big: Students as Partners and the 4M Framework<\/h1>\n
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\"SoTL@SHU<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Felten’s (2013) principles of good SoTL highlight that students are not simply the subjects of educational research but should be active partners in the inquiry process. While we often recognise student partnership within individual projects, the 4M framework (building on the work of Friberg, 2016) showcases four layers of potential SoTL impact: micro, meso, macro and mega. It offers an opportunity to consider how students can contribute and experience impact at multiple levels. (See our previous blog post ‘From ‘zooming in’ to ‘zooming out’: Recognising the multiple levels of SoTL impact through the 4M framework<\/a>‘.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the 4M framework we can demonstrate that students as partners are not simply beneficiaries of SoTL impact. They can be collaborators, advocates, leaders, and scholars who help create impact at every level. By considering both educator and student experiences across the micro, meso, macro, and mega dimensions, we gain a richer understanding of how SoTL contributes not only to enhanced learning, but also to the development of educational communities and future changemakers. Figure 1 provides examples of some of the roles students can have as partners in SoTL and what the benefits might be for the students.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Students<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Figure1: Students as SoTL Partners\u00a0Across\u00a0the 4M Framework: Roles and Benefits<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micro: Students as Co-inquirers<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the micro level, students help shape investigations into learning, teaching, support, and the wider student experience within a module, service, project, or programme. Students might:<\/p>\n\n\n\n