University of the Western Cape
Scholarship & professionalisation of teaching and learning
The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) serves as a cornerstone of my academic practice. This includes viewing students as active participants in inquiry and leveraging their engagement to co-create knowledge. In alignment with Thomson’s (2013) perspective on scholarly teaching, I approach
The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) serves as a cornerstone of my academic practice. This includes viewing students as active participants in inquiry and leveraging their engagement to co-create knowledge. In alignment with Thomson’s (2013) perspective on scholarly teaching, I approach teaching as a dynamic, research-informed practice where students are not passive recipients but co-constructors of meaning. My teaching is informed by extensive research and reflection, emphasising a student-centred approach to foster critical thinking, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Challenges in my teaching practice have been opportunities for growth, enabling a continuous cycle of improvement through systematic investigation and the sharing of findings.
Theoretical underpinning and philosophy
My teaching philosophy is rooted in constructivist and critical pedagogical frameworks, emphasising interactive and inclusive teaching strategies. My participation in workshops such as Intersectionality and Critical Language Awareness: Unlocking Their Potential in English Language Education (2024) has deepened my understanding of the intersection between linguistics, pedagogy, and social justice. Additionally, my approach is informed by digital literacy frameworks, as explored in the AI in Education: Unleashing Creativity and Collaboration workshop (2023).
Evidence of research-informed practice
Publications and research: My research focuses on integrating technology and language education, contributing to discussions on emerging technologies in classrooms.
Conference presentations: At the Regional Conference on AI (October 2024), I presented on enhancing critical literacies through AI. I also led workshops on ATLAS.ti usage at Stellenbosch University postgraduate school (2023 and 2024).
International collaboration: As part of a staff exchange program between UWC and Ghent University (2024), I (together with Dr Carli Louw) lectured on Afrikaans language acquisition, integrating international perspectives into my teaching – see PowerPoint and student group on the right.
Professional engagement & development
I actively participate in professional development activities to remain informed of educational innovation and relevant to today's student body:
- Digital transformation workshop: Leveraging AI and innovative technologies in postgraduate supervision (November 2025)
- Online Onderrig van Afrikaans as addisionele taal at Akademia (Sept.-Nov. 2025)
- Developing the Scholar workshops (Supervision and Publication Writing, 2024)
- Presenting at the Education Faculty lecturer community of practice (2024) Utilising technology to enhance AI detection in marking
- CIECT Conference on online teaching platforms (2023)
- Gamification in Education workshop by Dr. Jeff Kuhn (2019)
- TEFL Universal 120-Hour Advanced Course (2022), enhancing my strategies for teaching English as a second language.
Reflective practice & continuous improvement
Through regular reflection on my teaching, I identify and address challenges. My engagement with the myUnisa Upgrading to Moodle LMS Training (2022) and MOOC015: Basic Skills in E-Tutoring (2020) has significantly enhanced my digital pedagogical practices, equipping me with essential skills that I continuously apply in my lecture practice, particularly in the design of interactive online learning experiences and the integration of digital assessment tools. Reflective feedback from these sessions informs my efforts to improve student-centred learning and adaptive teaching strategies.
Additionally, I have re-adapted a Faculty seminar into a guest lecture focusing on the use of AI in education and the ethical considerations surrounding its implementation. By incorporating colleagues' insights and feedback from the seminar, I refined and presented a renewed lecture to first-year Foundation TME-students, ensuring a more comprehensive and ethically informed discussion on AI’s role in academic settings.
See lectures in Addendum 3
Workshops attended
2026
Regional Workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER), including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Teacher Education, WITS University, Johannesburg | 20-22 April
This workshop was my first interaction with OERs and I can definitely see the advantages of collaborating with regional institutions to set up an OER for subject matters. I made great connections with the Dean of Stadio's Education Faculty, senior lecturers from UP and UJ. I hope to learn from their maintained OER repositories.
University of Cape Town: Assessment in the Age of AI: Do’s, Don’ts and Don’t Knows for current practices symposium |1 April
Assessment as AI literacy pedagogy: Practical do's for integrated design presented by Joricke van der Merwe & Nadine Hamman.
2025
UWC research development & postgraduate support | 24-26 May
Digital Transformation Workshop: Leveraging AI and Innovative Technologies in Postgraduate Supervision, presented by Dr Thamie Ndlovu (NWU) and Dr Siyabonga Mhlongo (UJ)
Attended as the Education faculty representative, Creating a leading Research University: Voices from across the Research Spectrum with Prof Jose Frantz | 6 August
Educational Technologies SIG Webinar: Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education in the Global South: Practices and Possibilities | 14 May
2024
8th Colloquium on Afrikaans and South African Studies at Ghent University | 20-21 November
University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany| 9 July
Intersectionality and Critical Language Awareness: Unlocking Their Potential in English Language Education at Karlsruhe University, presented by Albert Biel, Lena Hertzel
Masterclass: Leading the Digital Leap – Integrating AI into Pedagogy & Practice, CHEC | 18-19 March
A two-day workshop presented by Prof Catherine Archer
2023
Prof Sivakumar Sivasubramaniam Postgraduate supervision certificate
Prof Zubeida Desai's publication group
The group assisted me in publishing three DHET-accredited articles during 2024.
SADiLaR DH Colloquium | 19 July
Presented by Karolina Rudnicka, where we explore the latest developments in AI-powered technologies. Can Grammarly and ChatGPT accelerate language change? AI-powered technologies and their impact on the English Language: wordiness vs. conciseness
AI in Education: Unleashing creativity and collaboration by Dr Phil Anthony (University of Kent) | 14 June
Foreign language acquisition practice in Southern Africa, University of the Free State. | 8-9 June
Attended workshops and discussions where colleagues from all South African universities shared their practices. The output of this symposium was a digital platform where we share our task-based assignments and practices.
2022
Language Technology for Education in the South African languages | 15 June
Attended online workshops regarding different studies in language technology.
2017-2019
Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Conference, Stellenbosch University | 28-30 October 2019
Attended a gamification workshop and interpreting workshop by SU Language Centre.
Linguistics Summer School, University of the Witwatersrand | 4-8 December 2017
Attended workshops on applied linguistics for PhD-students.
Impact on students & learning communities
My teaching practice is geared towards fostering an inclusive and innovative classroom environment:
- Plan or Panic: Time management for the first-year student (2 February 2026), I presented a short talk to the SP and FET first-years as part of their welcoming programme to the UWC Education Faculty. I was also the programme coordinator for the day.
- Watch, Listen, Engage: A dynamic blended learning experience: I presented at UWC’s Academic Week (October 2024), this workshop equipped educators with dynamic strategies to integrate blended learning effectively.
- The good, the bad and the ugly of using Ikamva: I presented at the UWC's CIECT Conference (August 2023), this talk formed an evaluation of learner management systems I have worked with in higher education. This presentation informed the CIECT department of lecturer and student enquiries on a daily basis but also led to using more of Ikamva's functions.
- Attended the Foreign language acquisition practice in Southern Africa symposium at UFS (June 2023), which included workshops and discussions where colleagues from all South African universities shared their practices. The output of this symposium was a digital platform where we share our task-based assignments and practices to assist one another.
See lectures in addendum 3.
Enhancing pedagogical and technological expertise
My participation in the ATLAS.ti training and workshops has significantly strengthened my ability to conduct qualitative data analysis, allowing for more structured and in-depth engagement with research data.
The TPOLT course equipped me with advanced pedagogical techniques for teaching different levels in higher education, enhancing my instructional approaches for diverse student cohorts. Through the UWC Induction Programme, I gained valuable institutional knowledge and insight into university-wide centres and student engagement strategies, which have informed my contributions to faculty committees and programme design. Additionally, my involvement in various ICT workshops has expanded my technological proficiency, enabling the seamless integration of digital tools into my teaching, such as AI-assisted writing feedback, blended learning models, and interactive learning platforms.
These experiences collectively support my ongoing efforts to refine my teaching methodologies, mentor postgraduate students effectively, and contribute to innovative curriculum development.
All certificates
Evidence of scholarship in action
- Student inquiry: Facilitating group analyses of Afrikaans and Kaaps texts in ELA221 (2023, 2024), I aim to assist students in an explorative activity where they get to know their own linguistic diversity.
- Mentorship: Supporting postgraduate students through structured research workshops and seminars, including research methodology and proposal writing sessions (2024-2025).
- Published work: Research on integrating technology in language classrooms, for example, the Study-buddy framework which Dr Fagan and I developed. Additionally, participating in the Intersectionality and Critical Language Awareness workshop, where I shared my practices which lead to reflections with international colleagues.
Addressing challenges and opportunities in teaching
Balancing traditional and innovative teaching methods, I have integrated AI tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT into writing modules while addressing their ethical implications. These tools enhance learning but require clear guidelines for ethical use, as demonstrated in my collaborated presentation at the regional conference on AI (SU) on 9 October 2024 and at UCT on 1 April 2026 – see the PowerPoint on the right and the Study-buddy framework.
All educational activities completed
2026
- 20-22 April | Regional Workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER), including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Teacher Education, WITS University, Johannesburg
- 1 April | Assessment in the Age of AI: Do’s, Don’ts and Don’t Knows for current practices symposium at the University of Cape Town: Assessment as AI literacy pedagogy: Practical do's for integrated design presented by Joricke van der Merwe & Nadine Hamman.
- 2 February | Plan or Panic: Time management for the first-year student. I presented a short talk to the SP and FET first-years as part of their welcoming programme to the UWC Education Faculty. I was also the programme coordinator for the day.
2025
- 24-26 Nov. 2025| Digital Transformation Workshop: Leveraging Al and Innovative Technologies in Postgraduate Supervision, UWC research development & postgraduate support
- Sept.-Nov. 2025|Online Onderrig van Afrikaans as addisionele taal by Akademia (NQF 5)
- 6 August 2025|Creating a leading Research University: Voices from across the Research Spectrum with Prof Jose Frantz
- 20 May 2025 | Writing a new project and funding post-PhD
- 14 May 2025 | Educational Technologies SIG Webinar Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education in the Global South: Practices and Possibilities
- 19 March 2025 | Case for promotion - Early career researchers workshop by Prof Jose Frantz
- 28 February 2025 | Value proposition (Developing the scholar)
2024
- 20-21 November 2024 | 8th Colloquium on Afrikaans and South African Studies at Ghent University
- 26-27 August 2024 | Developing the scholar: Supervision workshop by Prof Jose Frantz
- September 2024 | Developing the scholar: Publication writing by Prof Jose Frantz
- 9 July 2024 | Intersectionality and Critical Language Awareness by Albert Biel, Lena Hertzel (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
Intersectionality and Critical Language Awareness: Unlocking Their Potential in/for English Language Education
2023
- 19 July 2023 | SADiLaR DH Colloquium featuring Karolina Rudnicka, where we'll explore the latest developments in Al-powered technologies. Can Grammarly and ChatGPT accelerate language change? AI-powered technologies and their impact on the English Language: wordiness vs. conciseness | 1 hour
- 14 June 2023 | Dr Phil Anthony (University of Kent) | AI in Education: Unleashing Creativity and Collaboration | 2 hours
- 8-9 June 2023 | Foreign language acquisition practice in Southern Africa, University of the Free State.
Attended workshops and discussions during symposium.
2020-2022
- 15 June 2022 | Language Technology for Education in the South African languages
Attended online workshops regarding different studies in language technology.
- June 2022 | TEFL Universal | Teaching English as Foreign Language 120 Hour Adv. course
- February 2022 | Unisa | myUnisa Upgrading to Moodle LMS training
- October 2021 | Gamification workshop by Dr Jeff Kuhn Ohio University
- September 2020 | TechSmith Camtasia SUNLearn short course
- April 2020 | Unisa | MOOC015-Basic Skills in E-Tutoring in ODeL Understanding the role of an E-tutor in an ODeL environment. Applying basic pedagogical skills in an ODeL environment. Designing social and experiential learning experiences for an online environment. Understanding the online learning environment and applied competencies in the use of basic teaching and learning tools.
- Understanding the role of an E-tutor in an ODeL environment. Applying basic pedagogical skills in an ODeL environment. Designing social and experiential learning experiences for an online environment. Understanding the online learning environment and applied competencies in the use of basic teaching and learning tools.
- Understanding the role of an E-tutor in an ODeL environment.
- Applying basic pedagogical skills in an ODeL environment.
- Designing social and experiential learning experiences for an online environment.
- Understanding the online learning environment and applied competencies in the use of basic teaching and learning tools.
2019
- 28-30 October 2019 | Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Conference
Attended Gamification Workshop and Interpreting workshop.
- 2019 | SU Language Centre | PR like a Pro short course
- 2019 | UCT GetSmarter | Copy writing & editing short course
2016-2017
- 2017 | SU | Dutch Language Acquisition CNaVT exam (A2)
- 2016 | SU Language Centre | Writing consultant short course (NQF 7)
Presentations at local and international events
2026
Paris Conference on Education, Sorbonne University, France | 18 June
From orientation to transformation: Reconfiguring immersive excursions in initial teacher education in South Africa
University of the Western Cape: Assessment in the Age of AI: Do’s, Don’ts and Don’t Knows for current practices symposium | 1 April
Assessment in the age of AI: Reframing practice through a critical AI-study buddy model
Plan or Panic: Time management for the first-year student | 2 February I presented a short talk to the SP and FET first-years as part of their welcoming programme to the UWC Education Faculty. I was also the programme coordinator for the day.
Education Association of South Africa Conference | 12 January 2026
Enhancing Critical Literacies: The Role of AI in the Modern Classroom co-present with Dr Dominique Fagan
Excursions as enabling learning environments: Fostering belonging, care and reflexivity in Initial Teacher Education co-present with Dr Carli Louw
2025
UWC SoLT conference | 1 December
Transformative learning through immersive excursions: Reimagining teacher education at UWC, co-present with Dr Carli Louw
Canadian association for the advancement of Netherlandic studies (University of Windsor) | 1 June
A disconcerting togetherness: Pro-patriarchal identity constructions in contemporary Afrikaans self-help books, co-present with Dr Amanda Marais (hybrid)
Stellenbosch University Postgraduate school | 24 & 13 May April
Present a workshop: ATLAS.ti in practice
2024
Regional conference on AI (SU) | 9 October
Enhancing Critical Literacies: The Role of AI in the Modern Classroom
UWC Academic Week: Crafting blended learning masterpieces | 30 August
Watch, Listen, Engage: A dynamic blended learning experience
ALA Language Awareness, Education & Power conference, Karlsruhe, Germany | 7-11 July
Construction of Afrikaans masculinity in the South African media: Power and status
Education Faculty: Lecturer community of practice (UWC) | 12 June
Utilising technology to enhance AI detection in marking
Stellenbosch University Postgraduate school | 25 April
Present a workshop: ATLAS.ti in practice
USAN Conference for young scholars | 24-26 January
Present a paper: Die ondersoek van genderkonstruksies in Afrikaanse tydskrifte: ’n Multidissiplinêre metodologie
2023
CIECT Conference | UWC | 31 August
The good, the bad and the ugly of using Ikamva
Afrikaans literature society (ALV) Conference, Nelson Mandela University | 23-26 August
Present a paper: Die konstruksie van Afrikaanse manlikheid in tydskrifte: ’n Fokus op seksualiteit.
Stellenbosch University Postgraduate school | 17 March
Present a workshop: Working with ATLAS.ti.
2022
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns Simposium | 9-10 November
Present a paper: The construction of Afrikaans masculinity in magazines (2005 to 2015): A discourse analytical study
2018
View of the Open Sky Conference (US) | 2 November
Present a paper: The representation of women in Huisgenoot in 1963 and 2013: A multimodal discourse analysis.
2017
Linguistics Summer School, University of the Witwatersrand | 4-8 December
Present a paper: The construction of Afrikaans masculinity in magazines (2005-2015): A discourse analysis.
2014, 2016
USAN Conference for young scholars | January
Presented papers: Changes in the health discourse in reference to the women’s magazine Sarie (1983-2013).
The representation of women in Huisgenoot in 1963 and 2013: A multimodal discourse analysis.
Concluding...
My commitment to SoTL is evident in my consistent efforts to engage with research, professional development and reflective teaching practices. By fostering innovation and inclusivity, I aim to contribute meaningfully to teaching and learning in higher education.
Contact me at sslouw@uwc.ac.za/susannahlouw@gmail.com