Publication Workshop : Developing your work for (journal) publication

Frances BellResearch in Learning Technology http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/Workshop given on 25 June , 2013 at Institute of Learning Innovation,University of Leicester

Aim

An interactive session designed to help develop your skills and knowledge in relation to writing for publication in a journal

Opportunity to ask questions, review drafts

 Gestation or Night inClose colleagues:•Presentation/ feedback•Local peer review

Conference:•Presentation/ feedback

Personal network:Blogging and comments

Journal:Read contentCheck audienceOffer to reviewSubmit , and resubmitNo such thing as failure

Who is your audience?Where should you

publish?Looking at possible journals helps you imagine their audience better

Thinking about your audience helps you choose a journal outlet

Research research!

Common Problems

S C O P E

SCOPE

So what?

Knowledge gap

Coherence

Abstract

TitleTitle Audience

One approach is:Does it do what it says on the tin?

Rachael Jacobs. Aesthetic development in pre-service teacher education: An interdisciplinary dialogue

Search engine optimisation

Alternative approach:Catchy title

Flying not flapping: a strategic framework for e-learning and pedagogical innovation in higher education institutions

5 minute exercise –

Who might be interested in this paper?

Would they find it easily?

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563212000088

Research the competition

Check here – including the word Facebook seemed to be quite a good idea in 2011 http://top25.sciencedirect.com/subject/social-sciences/23/archive/33/ and some of those are still there

Write about

… what interests you

Whilst making sure you are likely to attract an audience

Blogging Au Plein Air, after Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital

Man using iPad by C. Regina

A few practical tips – or don’t annoy the editor!

If you are not sure if your work fits the journal, can email abstract to editor

Follow style and structure guidelines – word length, Headings, etc., citations, references

Check images (resolution, etc.)

Proof read before sending

• Read first, (re-)written last

• Features

• Concise

• Precise

• Informative

• Language matches likely search

The abstract

1-2-3 - the ten minute abstract

ONE• identify a research question, objective • write a title  (5 minutes)• share with your neighbour, question, clarify,

improve (5 minutes)

TWO• write an abstract (10 mins) - see handout

THREE• swap with your neighbour, read and feedback

(10 mins)

-Thanks to Rhona Sharpe for this exercise

Designing an Article

Possible article structure• (Abstract, keywords)• Introduction

• Backdrop and purpose

• Methodology• Varies according to

article type• address ethics

• Literature Review• Results• Discussion• Conclusions

Emerald advice on abstract structure

PurposeDesign/methodology/approach

FindingsResearch limitations/implications (if applicable)

Practical implications (if applicable) 

Social implications (if applicable) 

Originality/value

Example of articlehttp://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/

view/14430/html

‘Standard Structure’

(Abstract, keywords)

Introduction

Methodology

Literature Review

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Cross-discipline investigation of the relationship between academic performance and online

resource access by distance education students

Abstract/Keywords

Introduction

Part of justification / backdrop – identifies the gap to be filled

Background

Context

Methods

Justification/ design

Results

Conclusion

Links back to stated purpose?

The beginning

Abstract

Keywords: distance education; online resources; academic performance; virtual learning environments; e-learning

Introduction

IntroductionPart of justification / backdrop – identifies the gap to be filled

“Distance education requires less physical infrastructure and resources and can offer students access to higher education for a reduced living cost (Betts, Hartman, and Oxholm 2009). Distance education enables institutions to access a global student market (Tennant, McMullen, and Kaczynski 2009) that extends to non-traditional populations, particularly those with family and/or work obligations that prevent attendance at university campuses (Betts et al. 2009). Furthermore, distance education is material to the heightened global interest in higher education and the growth in international students (Ragusa and Steinke 2011). “

Purpose/aims

“The present study seeks to fill knowledge gaps in the research literature by examining how and if the use of pedagogically driven technologies enhances or detracts from higher education delivery in two large and diverse introductory subjects at an Australian University. By providing an evaluation of online communication and resources used by distance students in a range of natural and social science courses, as well as the humanities, our research sample includes students with widely varying pre-tertiary performance abilities that we term ‘perceived academic capacity’.”

The middle

Background

Context

Methods

Justification/ design

Results

The end

Conclusion

Links back to stated purpose?

Our research evidenced that the provision of low-cost and easy-to-create online resources quantitatively enhanced students’ academic performance: students who accessed the online resources achieved greater academic success.

Think like a reviewer/editor- Write a review of 2 papers

- More useful- Less useful

Reviewer Guidelines: Research in Learning

Technology• Does the paper have clear aims and objectives / research questions that can be achieved within the scope of a Research in Learning Technology journal paper?

Does the paper make a contribution to knowledge?

Is the work suitably grounded in the literature to justify its contribution and frame the analysis/evaluation?

Is the research/evaluation methodology justified, clear and appropriate? (including ethical considerations / approval where appropriate)

Does the analysis/ evaluation have a clear flow and logical argument?

Does the analysis/evaluation link to an appropriate discussion and conclusions?

Is it presented in a way which is suitable for Research in Learning Technology’s

international audience?

http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope

Questions

Informal consultation…..

And now!

Good advice from the ThesisWhisperer

http://www.slideshare.net/ingermewburn/write-that-journal-article-in-7-days-12742195

Resources

Emerald – How to write effectivelyWe used today http://www.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/write/abstracts.htm

Oxford University Press ACS Style Guide

Reviewing a Manuscript for Publication Allen S. Lee

http://www.slideshare.net/ingermewburn/write-that-journal-article-in-7-days-12742195