Submissions

Author Guidelines

Scholarship

Four distinct types of submissions are invited. These are categorised using Ernest Boyer's 1990 classification from Boyer, E.L. (1990) Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate, Carnegie Foundation (ISBN 0-7879-4069-0). You can watch a brief (5'30") video that explains these categories on the Reviewers page here. 

• Scholarship of Discovery
• Scholarship of Integration
• Scholarship of Application (Engagement)
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

In addition, Book Reviews (between 1500-2500 words) are welcome.

Please review the details for each submission theme carefully. Below each category, the list of criteria provided to reviewers to assess the submission is included. These are provided for further guidance. Authors are encouraged to self-review against these criteria before submission.

Articles - Scholarship by Discovery

Articles submitted under this section are investigative research, with supporting evidence for new ideas. What is to be found? Discovery research is typically study-based, grounded in the existing literature, and with sound methodology.

This category encompasses original research that advances the knowledge base of open, flexible, and distance learning. Submissions in this area present new theoretical insights, empirical findings, or methodological advancements that contribute to our understanding of OFDL phenomena, practices, and outcomes. This is the traditional domain of research, focusing on uncovering new knowledge and expanding the intellectual frontiers of the field.

Submissions should be under 7000 words. This includes everything. References must be APA7 and include DOIs where these are available. A 200-250 word abstract is included in the word count.

Reviewer Checklist for Scholarship of Discovery:

• Originality: Does the submission present novel ideas, findings, or methods?
• Significance: Does the research address a critical gap in the existing body of research or offer significant implications for the field?
• Rigour: Are the research design, methodology, and data analysis sound and appropriate for the research questions?
• Evidence: Are the claims made in the conclusion supported by robust evidence and logical argumentation?
• Clarity: Is the research question clearly articulated, and are the findings presented in a clear and understandable manner?
• Contribution: Does the submission genuinely advance the knowledge base of OFDL?
• Ethical Considerations: Were appropriate ethical guidelines followed in the conduct of the research?
• Authorship: Allowing for the role of a copyeditor to support the final submission, do you believe this work is written in an appropriate manner for scholarly publication?

Articles - Scholarship of Integration

Articles submitted in this section bring together existing ideas in a summarised form, with key themes identified. What does what is found actually mean? Integration involves working with existing ideas, based on an extensive literature review across disciplines.

The Scholarship of Integration focuses on synthesising existing knowledge to reveal new interpretations, connections, or applications relevant to OFDL. Submissions in this category go beyond simply summarising; they critically analyse, interpret, and connect disparate theories, concepts, or findings from various disciplines or sub-fields to create a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues within OFDL. This might involve interdisciplinary reviews, conceptual frameworks, or meta-analyses that bring together previously disconnected ideas.

Submissions should be under 8000 words. The extended word count is to allow for more extensive referencing. This includes everything. References must be APA7 and include DOIs where these are available. A 200-250 word abstract is included in the word count.

Reviewer Checklist for Scholarship of Integration:

• Syntheses: Does the submission effectively synthesise diverse sources of information?
• Coherence: Does it establish clear and logical connections between disparate ideas or findings?
• Insight: Does the integration lead to novel insights, interpretations, or a more comprehensive understanding of OFDL?
• Scope: Is the scope of the integration appropriate and well-defined?
• Criticality: Does the submission critically evaluate and synthesise the integrated knowledge, rather than merely presenting it?
• Relevance: Is the integrated knowledge directly relevant and applicable to the field of OFDL?
• Structure: Is the argument well-structured and easy to follow?
• Authorship: Allowing for the role of a copyeditor to support the final submission, do you believe this work is written in an appropriate manner for scholarly publication?

Articles - Scholarship of Application (Engagement)

Articles submitted in this section provide accounts of how relevant education theory has been implemented in operational contexts. How can what is found be used? The application firmly rests on literature, providing an account of how theory has been applied and providing transferable lessons and opportunities for further research based on the experience.

This category emphasises the application of knowledge to address real-world problems and challenges within open, flexible, and distance learning. Submissions here showcase how theoretical understanding or research findings are translated into practical solutions, innovative practices, or effective interventions that benefit learners, educators, institutions, or communities in OFDL contexts. This includes action research, case studies of practical implementations, evaluations of courses or programmes, or descriptions of effective pedagogical approaches. It is about connecting theory with practice and demonstrating the impact of academic work.

Submissions should be under 7000 words. This includes everything. References must be APA7 and include DOIs where these are available. A 200-250-word abstract is included in the word count.

Reviewer Checklist for Scholarship of Application:

• Relevance: Does the application described address a significant problem or need within OFDL?
• Impact: Is there evidence of positive impact or potential for positive impact on practice, policy, or community?
• Theoretical Grounding: Is the application informed by relevant theories or research findings?
• Transferability: Are the findings or lessons learned transferable to other OFDL contexts?
• Documentation: Are the process, implementation, and outcomes of the application being described clearly and thoroughly documented?
• Evaluation: Is there evidence of critical reflection and evaluation of the application's effectiveness?
• Collaboration: (If applicable) Is there evidence of meaningful engagement with stakeholders or practitioners?
• Authorship: Allowing for the role of a copyeditor to support the final submission, do you believe this work is written in an appropriate manner for scholarly publication?

Articles - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Articles submitted in this section are accounts of innovative practice, usually informed by student evaluation. How can what is found be understood by others? Teaching research is more than a ‘look at what we did’; it is informed, reflective, and ultimately valuable for other settings.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) focuses on the systematic inquiry into teaching and learning processes within open, flexible, and distance environments. Submissions in this category explore innovative pedagogical approaches, curriculum design, assessment strategies, or the use of technology to enhance learning in OFDL. This involves a rigorous investigation of teaching practices and their impact on student learning, going beyond anecdotal evidence to contribute to a deeper understanding of effective pedagogy in our unique context.

Submissions should be under 7000 words. This includes everything. References must be APA7 and include DOIs where these are available. A 200-250 word abstract is included in the word count.

Reviewer Checklist for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning:

• Focus on Learning: Is the primary focus on understanding and improving student learning?
• Teaching Innovation: Does the submission describe an innovative or effective teaching approach?
• Systematic Inquiry: Is there evidence of systematic investigation and analysis of teaching and/or learning?
• Data/Evidence: Are claims about learning outcomes supported by appropriate data or evidence?
• Generalisability: Are the findings generalisable or transferable to other OFDL teaching contexts?
• Reflection: Does the submission demonstrate critical reflection on the teaching and learning process?
• Contribution: Does it contribute to the knowledge base of effective teaching and learning in OFDL?
• Contextualisation: Is the OFDL context clearly described and considered in the teaching approach?
• Authorship: Allowing for the role of a copyeditor to support the final submission, do you believe this work is written in an appropriate manner for scholarly publication?

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Manuscript Style

• Please ensure that you have carefully read the Information for Authors before submitting. Failure to do so will result in severe delays..

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Double-Anonymous Peer Review

We are committed to the integrity of our peer review processes. This requires that neither the authors nor the reviewers are identifiable to each other. Wherever possible, submissions should attempt to ensure they cannot be identified. Clearly, this is problematic when a submission is practice-based or a localised case study is undertaken, but authors are encouraged to do as much as possible to ensure anonymity.

Please see the details of how submissions should be prepared for anonymous peer review.