About the Journal

Focus and Scope

This journal publishes the proceedings from the UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium and special issues on relevant topics. The UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium, held annually or bi-annually, showcases innovative and effective practices across the system. 

It’s clear that the future of learning is multi-modal, champions inclusion and equity, and promotes openness. We must work in increasingly collaborative ways, and establish cross-campus and system partnerships to achieve our goals. Faculty, librarians, staff, and graduate students across the system are invited to participate in order to learn from one another and share innovative and effective practices in technology-enhanced learning in all modes. We welcome a range of formats, from ideas in formation to case studies and other approaches.

Symposium themes have included:

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) & Inclusive Teaching
  • Supporting Student Engagement and Success
  • Innovative Technologies and Learning Spaces
  • Open Educational Resources, Open Pedagogy & Open Access Scholarship
  • Course Design
  • Learning Professionals as Researchers

 

Submission Types

Submission types may vary by year, so please read the call for proposals carefully. The general types of submissions are:

For Special Issue Submissions:

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE. Original empirical or theoretical research-based articles examining the intersection of learning and technology in higher education. This can encompass historical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methodologies. Manuscript Body (between 3000-5000 words including references, tables, figures, acknowledgments, appendices). Peer-reviewed.
  • RESOURCES IN PRACTICE. Offers resources, such as syllabi, guidelines, lesson plans, multimedia content, or any other materials facilitating learning and technology in higher education contexts. Varying word counts depending on the resource type (500-3000 words). Peer-reviewed.
  • BOOK REVIEW. Analytical critiques of recent publications (ideally within 3 years) or classic books related to learning and technology in higher education. Includes a summary that provides a clear connection to learning and technology in a higher education context. Review offers an analytical critique of the book's content and is no more than 500-700 words.

For Symposium Submissions:

  • PRESENTATION. These 45-minute sessions are opportunities to share topics of interest, lessons learned, foresight, or evidence of impact related to a conference theme. Peer-reviewed.
  • POSTER. These 45-minute sessions allow presenters to visually present their topic with a physical poster display. Peer-reviewed.

Authors must have an online account before they can submit a manuscript for review. Please register by filling out the Journal Registration Form to get this process started.

How to Register with the Journal

If you are interested in submitting your work, volunteering as a peer reviewer, or otherwise getting involved with the UNC System Learning and Technology Journal, you can register by filling out Journal Registration Form. We look forward to you working with us.

Editorial Team

Please refer to the specific journal issue for the editorial team. The editorial team is comprised of the symposium planning committee members for that year.

 

Peer Review Process

All proposals submitted to the UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium Proceedings are peer reviewed using a double-blind review process. The Symposium Planning Proposal Review Sub-committee assigns proposals to reviewers, ensuring there are no conflicts of interests. Each proposal is assigned to 2-4 reviewers. Reviewers are volunteers from the field who have expertise in the topics covered by the symposium.

Presentations and posters accepted to the Symposium are eligible for publication in the journal. The volume managing editor has full accountability and power to approve or reject a presentation submitted for publication. The presentation must follow the required formatting in order to be accepted for publication. To assist in making this decision, the managing editor can consult with other editors (i.e., the Symposium Planning Committee members for that year) or reviewers for an assessment. Reviewers should sufficiently clarify and justify their opinions, so that editors and authors can understand the reason for their statements.

How Reviewers are Selected

Reviewers are invited by the Symposium Planning Committee or by the Editorial Board based on their expertise. The database of reviewers is constantly being updated. We welcome suggestions for reviewers from the author/s though these recommendations may or may not be used.

Reviewer Reports

Reviewers are asked to evaluate proposals using the following criteria:

Special Issue Review Criteria:

  1. Relevance and Alignment:
    1. How well does the submission align with the theme and focus of the Special Issue?
    2. Does the submission address key aspects of learning and technology in higher education as outlined in the Special Issue call for submissions?
    3. Is the topic directly relevant and timely to the aims of the Special Issue?
  2. Originality and Contribution:
    1. Does the submission offer original insights, ideas, or research findings in the field of learning and technology in higher education?
    2. To what extent does the submission contribute to advancing knowledge or understanding in the field within the context of the Special Issue's theme?
  3. Clarity and Quality of Content:
    1. Is the submission well-written, clear, and logically structured?
    2. Are the key arguments, methodologies, or research frameworks effectively communicated?
    3. Does the submission demonstrate depth and scholarly rigor?
  4. Methodological Soundness (if applicable):
    1. For research-based submissions, how appropriate and robust are the methodologies, data collection, and analysis methods used?
  5. Practical Application or Implications (if applicable):
    1. Does the submission offer practical implications or applications for professionals, practitioners, or educators in the field of learning and technology in higher education?
    2. Are there actionable insights or recommendations derived from the submission?
  6. Overall Contribution to the Special Issue:
    1. Considering the overall quality and relevance of the submission, how suitable is it for inclusion in the Special Issue?
    2. Does the submission offer a significant and valuable contribution to the overarching goals of the Special Issue?

Symposium Review Criteria:

  1. Alignment with Theme and Description:
    1. How well does the title and abstract align with the presentation description?
    2. To what extent does the selected track theme correlate with the presentation's content?
  2. Creativity and Approach:
    1. Does the presenter offer a creative and innovative approach to the topics and/or presentation?
    2. Are there unique or novel strategies evident in the presentation?
  3. Audience Interaction and Engagement:
    1. How well do the presentation strategies incorporate audience interaction and engagement?
    2. Is there a clear plan for involving the audience or encouraging participation?
  4. Relevance and Interest:
    1. How relevant are the content and/or skills highlighted in the presentation to the audience?
    2. Would this presentation be of interest and attract attendees?
  5. Overall Judgment:
    1. Considering the aforementioned criteria, provide an overall judgment and reasoning regarding the suitability and quality of the presentation.

Becoming a Reviewer

If you are not currently a reviewer for this journal we publish but would like to be added to the list, please contact us at learning.tech@northcarolina.edu. The benefits of serving as a reviewer include the opportunity to see and evaluate the latest work in your research area at an early stage. You may also be able to cite your work for the journal as part of your professional service contributions.

 

Publication Frequency

The journal is published after each UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium. The Symposium is held annually or bi-annually. Special issues of the journal may be published as interest arises in special topics.

 

Open Access Policy

This journal provides open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

 

Terms of Use

All content contained within the UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium Proceedings may be used as set forth in the Creative Commons CC BY Attribution License.

You are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Under the following terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

 

Journal History

The UNC System Learning and Technology Symposium was held for the first time in 2023. Here you can find all accepted, reviewed, and published presentations during all symposia since then. Google Scholar, Web of Science, and other databases also index our symposium proceedings.