Call for the papers: "Design-based Research for Online Learning Environment Development"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments.

Online learning has evolved from a marginal form of education to an increasingly popular alternative. Online learning environments can be developed using learning management systems (such as Blackboard or Edmodo), social media platforms (such as Facebook Groups) or authoring tools (such as Articulate or Adobe Captivate). However, as an online learning environment has some limitations such as a lack of classroom climate or social cues, its development often faces challenges. Research indicates that design-based research can be a practical approach to the development of high-quality online learning environments.

 

Design-based research (also referred to in this context as educational design research or educational design experiments) has two primary purposes: 1) producing a usable artifact such as an online learning environment through several rounds of prototyping, and 2) generating design principles for guiding the development of similar artifacts. It often involves a number of iterations, in which design, development, formative evaluation and revision are systematically carried out and the quality of the artifact is gradually improved.

 

This special issue aims to collect and publish exemplary cases and development studies on using the design-based research approach in the development of online learning environments. Development and research articles and conceptual papers are welcome. In particular, examples of showing how effective online learning environments are developed by progressing through several iterations are preferred.

 

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical frameworks or models for design-based research
• Theoretical frameworks or models for online learning environment development
• Cases studies and examples of online learning environment development
• Experiences of using authoring tools (such as Articulate or Captivate) to create online learning environments by following the design-based research approach
• Experiences of using learning management systems to develop and host online learning environments by following the design-based research approach
• Experiences of using social media platforms to design online learning environments by following the design-based research approach
• Lessons learned from design-based research studies
• Meta-analysis of design-based research studies
• Design and development of interactive online learning environments
• Social media for online learning

 

Important Dates

Full paper submission: 28 February, 2015

Notification of acceptance: 31 March, 2015

Final submission: 15 May, 2015