SDSU-sponsored journal promotes research on teaching and learning

The average person likely has a very specific image in mind for what a laboratory looks like: white coats, protective goggles, blue latex gloves and half-filled beakers abound.

An upcoming peer-reviewed journal sponsored by South Dakota State University explores research happening daily in a different setting across campus.

“Every classroom in this context becomes a laboratory,” said Victor Taylor, vice provost for graduate education and extended studies.

Taylor is co-editor of the Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on Pedagogy and Learning Design. That name translates to a journal that publishes research related to the study of teaching and learning. 

The first edition of the publication is planned for next summer.
 
Teaching and the scientific method

Kevin Sackreiter is also a co-editor of the journal. He is an assistant professor and the executive director of SDSU’s Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence.

He said that, basically, the journal will apply the scientific method to teaching.

Sackreiter explained it this way: Start with a question like, “How could a professor harness artificial intelligence tools to improve students’ critical thinking skills?” Create a hypothesis. Test it out in the classroom. Collect data. Draw conclusions.

And then the Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on Pedagogy and Learning Design helps with the final step — share the findings.

“The goal is to take what faculty discover in the classroom and present it to their colleagues as examples of what works best to promote learning,” Taylor said.

The “learning design” portion of the journal’s name means it will also explore how to design college classes that get students involved in the learning process. That’s part of a national conversation on how to involve students in course development so they’re not just attending a class — they’re actively shaping it as the semester advances.
 
Many journal goals

The idea for the journal came from a brainstorming session between Sackreiter and Taylor on how to promote the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence’s objectives.

“Everything we do at CPETE starts with this question, ‘Does this enhance student learning here and, hopefully, nationally?’” Sackreiter said. “A dream for this journal is to see researchers across the country contribute to it and cite it.”

That would fit into one of South Dakota State University’s larger campaigns: R1 Our Way.

That’s the university’s goal to become an R1 Research University according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Taylor explained, “Having an academic journal sponsored by SDSU in this area is a very important way to promote a research culture on campus. This journal is going to hopefully be a destination publication for people doing high-level, cutting-edge research on teaching and learning.”
 
Inaugural edition to tackle artificial intelligence and teaching

Sackreiter and Taylor chose artificial intelligence’s role in the classroom as the first edition’s topic.

Why AI?

“Well, a few people have been talking about it lately,” Taylor joked.

A lot of the talk on AI and education has been on how to keep it out of the classroom and how to detect it when it sneaks into students’ assignments.

The journal will take a different approach. The co-editors think they’ll see a lot of papers on new ways to use AI to promote student learning and engagement.

“The university wants to promote AI literacy and teach students to know when to use it and how to use it appropriately,” Taylor said.

Since students will almost certainly use AI after graduation, the journal issue will explore how students can use AI while thinking critically. Its submissions should focus on getting students to view AI as a tool to assist their work, not to replace their work.

For example, teachers could have AI generate a paper on a topic and then challenge their students to write a better essay.

“Students would have to write better and think better than AI to successfully complete that assignment,” Taylor said.

And, as an example, a professor who did such an in-class experiment over several semesters, documenting the rubrics, prompts and steps in the writing process, could report on the student experience and learning outcomes and submit their findings to the journal.
 
Proposal submissions open via email

To submit to the Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on Pedagogy and Learning Design, researchers at South Dakota State University and beyond should submit their proposals by March 1, 2026.

Submit via email and watch for the first edition in summer 2026. 

“As part of SDSU’s culture, we share our knowledge. We want other people to be successful, so we’re very willing to share our success-based practices with colleagues at other institutions,” Taylor said. “We want to advance learning everywhere.”

Check the university’s website for more information about the journal and what kind of submissions the journal’s boards are looking for.