* Call for Papers: Special Issue on Mapping Terminology, Theory, Policy, and Resources Across Key Areas of Impact In Educational Technology

Call for Papers for Special Issue: Mapping Terminology, Theory, Policy, and Resources Across Key Areas of Impact In Educational Technology.

Co-Editors: Mariel Miller, Valerie Irvine, Michele Jacobsen, & Stephanie Moore

Interested authors are invited to submit manuscripts for Theory, Policy, and Resource Papers to the Journal by January 15, 2025.

Proposal soft deadline for consideration on an Index Paper author panel (described below): December 1, 2025. Successful panel members will be notified by January 15, 2025.

We strongly encourage submissions from authors who identify as belonging to structurally marginalized groups.

Response papers will be considered from date of issue publication until October 1, 2025 for continuous publication in the issue before December 31, 2025

Guidelines for submission are in the following section. 

Statement of flexibility: “The proposed deadlines are not fixed and any potential author(s) are encouraged to reach out to the editors at any stage to determine if their proposal can be reviewed for inclusion.”

This special issue centres on several high impact areas in educational technology. These include merging learning modalities, learning spaces, open education, artificial intelligence, microcredentials, digital literacy, and IDDEA for Ed Tech (inclusion, decolonization, diversity, equity, and accessibility) (Educause, 2024). As research and practice of Educational Technologies evolve at a rapid pace, this special issue aims to consolidate and synthesize information in key topic areas. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise in these areas, this special issue aims to advance understanding and facilitate effective dialogue within the field.

Topics of interest include:

• Learning Modalities, replacing the strict binary of online vs. face-to-face instruction with numerous variations of interaction, including online and face-to-face concurrently, consecutively, or both.
• Open Education, including elimination of barriers to opportunities and recognition for participation in education
• Artificial intelligence (AI), including Generate AI and AI-Enabled Applications for Learning for education in terms of content creation, communication, and learning.
• Microcredentials, offering flexible and modular approaches to education
• Learning Spaces: physical and virtual environments designed to support and enhance the learning experience
• Digital Literacy, in terms of competencies to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create information using a range of digital technologies.
• IDDEA in Ed Tech (Inclusivity, Diversity, Decolonization, Equity and Accessibility), addressing the critical need to ensure that educational technology advances these principles

Papers in this issue should be short so as to be digestible for quick understanding of key terms, concepts, theories, policies, and resource reviews. Authors are encouraged to highlight key research and practice papers, or to author them separately beyond this special issue, rather than compose long articles here. The following paper types will be considered:

1. Index Paper. (500-1000 words). These papers address the proliferation of terms in a selected trending area by examining and drawing connections between different terminologies. Index papers are authored by a panel of experts on the topic. Index papers are comprised of entries, each addressing a term for the focus topic. Entries should include a definition, alternative and related definitions, key works in the educational technology literature, including seminal papers. Index papers should conclude with critical comments by the author
2. Policy Paper (500-1000 words). Focuses on describing policy implementation related to a trending topic, whether by reviewing multiple policies or providing a detailed description of the implementation of a specific policy. Advances understanding of how policies are applied in practice and their impact on educational technology.
3. Theoretical Framework (500-1000 words). Theory papers focus on theoretical frameworks related to a selected trend, either by providing an overview of relevant theoretical frameworks or detailed review of a selected theory. Theory papers offer a conceptual foundation for future research and practice.
4. Resource Review (500-1000 words). Resource papers offer an overview of multiple resources and/or in-depth review of practical resources related to a selected trend area. Resource papers identify and evaluate tools and materials related to key topic areas.
5. Response Paper (1000-1500 words). These papers are short discourse articles that provide responses to the terminology, policy, or resource reviews. Response papers can be submitted throughout the year and are intended to provoke discussion, offer critiques, and provide additional perspectives on the primary papers.

The special issue will use a continuous publication model, so accepted submissions will be published as soon as they are ready. 

Abstract and Manuscript Information

Once the manuscript is accepted, the paper must follow all submission guidelines posted for the OTESSA Journal. This includes an abstract in both English and French is required as well as a list of keywords in both languages. Articles published by the OTESSA Journal will be given a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) License.