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eLearn Magazine: Three-years in Review and Beyond

By Simone C. O. Conceição / August 2020

TYPE: OPINION
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Dr. Anita Samuel and I finished the third year of being the eLearn Magazine Co-Editors-in-Chief on June 30, 2020. In the past three years, eLearn Magazine has reached several milestones placing the publication at the intersection of elearning research and practice. This editorial provides an overview of these accomplishments and a plan for the next three years.

Overview of the Last Three Years

The first year (2017-2018) was a time of change and transition. The magazine audience broadened, technology continued to expand, and the focus remained on exploring the new frontiers of online learning and technology. The second year (2018-2019) was a time of growth and expansion. Special Issues and a partnership with the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) were successful ventures. The Special Issues provided an opportunity for new perspectives on elearning and technology advancements. The new partnership with AAACE helped strengthen common ties among members of the two communities as a way to make a difference on an international scale. The third year (2019-2020) was a time of connection and expansion. The highlight of this past year was the in-person Editorial Board meeting in New York city. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily affected the publication cycle; however, we have recently received a greater number of submissions on online learning and COVID-19. These submissions will be noted in the next year (2020-2021).

Changes to the Editorial Process and ScholarOne

During the first year (2017-2018), modification of the article submission process, shift to a blind peer-reviewed publication, and the decision to utilize ScholarOne Manuscript Central as a submission management tool took place. During the second year (2018-2019), ScholarOne Manuscript Central was instituted in July 2018 as the new online system for managing publications. During the third year (2019-2020), the Editorial Board suggested changes to the author guidelines, reviewer criteria on Manuscript Central, article categorization, and types of articles. These suggestions are currently being implemented.

Publications

During the first year (July 2017-June 2018), the magazine topics were consolidated into eight areas: K-12 blended and online learning, professional development, design for learning, international online education, emerging technologies, management, corporate, and higher education. The magazine had a 7 percent acceptance rate for articles. Most of the rejections were due to out-of-scope submissions. In total, 20 articles were published averaging at least one article a month. Published articles were primarily in the areas of higher education and blended learning with a focus on program administration and innovative eLearning technologies.

During the second year (July 2018-June 2019), the magazine had a 35.38 percent acceptance rate. In total, 40 articles were published averaging at least three articles a month. Published articles were primarily in the areas of video communication/video-based discussions, discussion forums, copyright/ intellectual property, AR/VR, infographics, online retention, instructional technology, culturally responsive teaching, and learning myths.

A 2018 Special Issue on Technology in eLearning containing 16 articles examined the value and impact of instructional technology for addressing specific challenges faced by educators in the online classroom.

A 2019 Special Issue on Paradigm Shifts in Global Higher Education and elearning: An ecological perspective containing 13 articles examined the paradigm shift in teaching and learning processes and the responsibility to understand it to describe a better future for the next generation from an ecological perspective. The focus was on knowledge as the new capital and its power to shape and direct the world.

During the third year (July 2019-June 2020), the magazine had a 26.9 percent acceptance rate. In total, 22 articles were published averaging at least two articles a month. Published articles were primarily in the areas of academic integrity, learning design, professional development, immersive environment, neural science, and trends in higher education.

Partnership with AAACE

eLearn Magazine entered a partnership with the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) in February 2019. This partnership involves supporting each other’s work and disseminating information through social media, newsletters, exhibit table at the annual conference, and website promotion exchange. Our partnership continues to be strong through exchanges and our goal is to continue working with each other.

2020 and Beyond: Sustainability, Presence, and Partnership

With the structure established in the last three years and the Editorial Board support, for the next three-year term, the goal is to sustain what we have accomplished, maintain our presence as a publication, and explore new partnerships. I will continue as the Editor-in-Chief. Dr. Samuel will continue as an Editorial Board member. For the next three years, eLearn Magazine is committed to:

  • Sustain the standards and rigor of articles published in the eLearn Magazine by using the new writer’s guidelines established recently by the Editorial Board.
  • Further the conversation around new technologies through special issues and short editorials on current issues and trends in elearning.
  • Have an online presence through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Drs. Aras Bozkurt and Suzan Koseoglu will be the social media editors.
  • Continue to work closely with the Editorial Board. Conduct two virtual Editorial Board meetings per year. Provide regular updates to the Editorial Board members via email.
  • Maintain the current partnership agreement and develop at least one new partnership agreement with organizations with similar interests that can support and disseminate information on elearning.

I am looking forward to working with the support of our readers, authors, and Editorial Board members to make the magazine a top-notch publication bringing to the forefront trends, research, and practice on elearning. I want to thank Dr. Anita Samuel for her commitment, dedication, and innovation in making eLearn Magazine a high-standard publication.

Editor-in-Chief
Simone C. O. Conceição, Ph.D.

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