Call for papers: Web-based Learning Environments for Interactive and Collaborative Learning

A special issue of International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning

Compared to the physical classroom, the web-based learning environment has many unique advantages. For instance, it provides an equal opportunity for every student to participate, share information, voice their opinions and construct knowledge with the rest of the group. It also enables students to interact and collaborate with each other at any time and anywhere. Additionally, the learning process is often automatically recorded and can be easily monitored and tracked.

However, designing and using a web-based environment to support teaching and learning has many challenges as well. The environment must be easy to access and must meet different students’ needs, and must be a safe and comfortable space in which students are willing to contribute and support one another.

The main objective of this special issue is to provide a venue for researchers to share their experiences and challenges in designing and using web-based learning environments to support interactive and collaborative learning. The learning environment can be an online course, a space created in a course management system (such as Blackboard or Moodle), or a shared workspace designed using any free web 2.0 tools such as weblog or wiki. The discussions in this issue will have implications for practitioners designing effective web-based learning environments.

The issue will publish empirical research papers and case studies of designing or using web-based learning environments to support interactive and collaborative learning. Conceptual papers that address critical issues and concerns about online learning, interactive and collaborative learning or learning environment design are also welcome.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:

• Web-based virtual learning environments
• Using social media to support teaching and collaborative learning
• Enhancing interactive and collaborative learning by using technology
• Technology-supported collaborative learning
• Using web 2.0 tools such as weblog, wiki, microbloging and Facebook for learning
• Web-based learning communities
• Web-based communities of practice for teachers' professional development
• Web-based learning resource management and utilisation
• Collaborative knowledge construction
• Webquest design
• Social presence in web-based learning environments
• Social affordances of technology for teaching and learning
• Innovative use of course management systems to support interactive learning
• Issues and concerns of learning environment design

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 30 October, 2012
Notification to authors:  31 December, 2013
Final versions due:  28 February, 2013