RESPONSE online Journal Launched
Aug 7, 2007
by editor
A new on line journal has been initiated, in order to take forward the learning, development and publishing aims of staff and students in Higher and Further Education and also to enable dissemination of Learning and Teaching related research and development carried out within voluntary sector organisations in the UK and within wider regional, national and international learning communities. The journal is specifically designed for electronic access and interaction and has the title ‘Responding to Learning Needs Arising from Diversity’, short form RESPONSE
The journal’s aims are to:
Respond to learning and teaching needs arising from diversity
Focus on the themes of flexibility and diversity of Learning,
Teaching and Assessment approaches.
Showcase the diverse learning and teaching developments of
regional and national organizations in the voluntary, Higher
Education and Further Education sectors.
Ensure effective dissemination of scholarly activity and
development within an ethical framework.
Following the launch of the journal on December 9th 2006 the first issue, available http://www.derby.ac.uk/response focuses on ‘Diversity in Learning and Teaching Approaches’. Articles range from discussions of online material and the use of e assessment, to the challenges of interdisciplinary and interprofessional learning environments. The ways in which research informs teaching are also explored, contextualising this within the current HEFCE TQEF funding stream Teaching Informed by Research.
A call is currently going out for contributions to issues 2 and 3, on Work place Learning and Diversity of Learners respectively-see below.
Contributions can include academic papers (for peer review), short ‘works in progress’, features and events for the journal notice board.
Opportunities are also available to act as a reviewer of academic papers or to review a book or an article for the journal. Both students and staff are invited to carry out review.
In the long term the journal aims to link different learning communities, to enable dissemination of research and development outcomes and to initiate joint development of online resources. The strengthening of partnerships between these learning communities can only assist in
(a) response to the changing needs of different learning populations and
(b) expanded collaborative funding and delivery opportunities.
If you would like to be involved with the journal or simply wish to find out more please email Dr Isabel Jones, RESPONSE Editor at
If you are interested in writing for this new journal please see the notes for contributors.
Notes for Contributors
1) General Guidance
The Editorial Board welcomes articles about the response to learning and teaching needs arising from diversity, especially with regard to examples of practice.
Articles should not have been published elsewhere, either currently or previously.
Articles should:
· Make clear the region, country, locality, setting to which the article refers.
· Provide definitions of unfamiliar terms and abbreviations.
· Contain appropriate reference sources in the Harvard style
Articles will be reviewed anonymously, taking into account relevance to learning and teaching needs arising from diversity, originality, evidence base and evaluation.
It is the responsibility of the author to ensure maintenance of confidentiality of individuals and organisations to which the contribution refers.
· RESPONSE takes an ethics based stance with regard to both content and intention of contributions.
2) Forms of Contribution
Contribution may be made in a number of ways including:
A) Developed academic papers B) Short reports/work in progress C) Book and article reviews D) Notice board contributions E) Contributions to electronic fora F) Contributions to the Wiki resource thematic area*3) Guidelines for Contributions:
A) Guidelines- Academic Paper
Please include in the text of your contribution…
Your name and title
Organisation
Title of the contribution
Structure as follows
The length of the contribution should be between 1000 and 5000 words. The following section headings should be followed
Abstract: 200-300 words maximum
Author for correspondence
Introduction: Background: Methodology: Evaluation/Results:
Discussion: Conclusion: Minimum of 6 sources: Keywords
B) Guidelines-Short reports / Work in Progress
Please include in the text of your contribution…
Your name and title
Organisation…
Title of the contribution…
Structure as follows:
The length of the contribution should be between 300-800 words. The following section headings provide a possible structure, although only the initial and keyword sections are mandatory.
Introduction: Context: Methodology: Results: Conclusions:
2-4 Sources: Keywords
C) Guidelines-Notice board
Please include in the text…
Title of the event/activity
Organisation holding the event
Date, Time and Venue
Brief description
Contact details
D) Guidelines-Reviews
Send your contact details to us with a short description of your background and areas of interest
E) Guidelines- editorial sub panels
Send your contact details to us with a short description of your background and areas of interest
F) Guidelines-e phora
There are two main phora, one in which you can add comment and one in which you can begin a line of discussion.
Clarity and appropriate respect for other contributors are required in e phora contribution.
You can make this directly, through the web site.
G) Guidelines-Wiki area
Different thematic areas will be developed through the wiki site.
Please feel free to contribute to these through your registered use of the site. Clarity and appropriate respect for other contributors are required in contribution to the wiki area.
4) Guidelines for Submission
Please provide the following information and consult the guidelines below before forwarding your contribution to RESPONSE.
Electronic submission
Authors are requested to send their submissions in electronic form as an e mail attachment, which should include the email address of the corresponding author.
· Submissions should be in Microsoft Word (PC format).
· Please provide any graphics as JPEG or GIF files
· Please do not save your files as ‘text only’ or ‘read only’
· Tables should be forwarded as Excel files.
· Word files should be 5 megabytes maximum in size
Please include the following information with any submission:
Name, Role, Organisation
Address, Contact details
E mail address
Telephone contact
Nature of Contribution: Please asterisk appropriately
Academic Paper
Work in Progress
Notice board addition
Willing to provide a book/article review
Willing to serve on an editorial sub panel
Submissions should be sent by e mail attachment to
Dr Isabel Jones, Editor at
RESPONSE Phone: 01332 592071
*Deadlines for submissions: – *
Issue 2 ‘Diversity in workplace learning’ – May 31st 2007
Issue 3 ‘Diversity in Learners Needs’ – September 30th 2007
Issue 4 ‘Diversity in Learning Support’ – January 2008
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