Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments

 

Special Issue on: "Video-supported Online Virtual Classrooms"

Editor:
Dr. Qiyun Wang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Online learning can be as good as or even better than face-to-face learning in terms of learning outcomes. However, the absence of personal contact in an online learning environment creates a number of challenges, such as the lack of classroom climate, insufficient visual cues, loneliness, and difficulties in observing students’ participation and engagement.

The use of two-way live video conferencing together with text chat can create an interactive virtual classroom where students and the teacher can see each other; students can conveniently ask questions without interrupting the teacher’s presentation; and the teacher feels more comfortable when he/she talks to the live students rather than to the screen. However, there might be additional challenges in an online virtual classroom. For instance, organising and facilitating group activities and monitoring students’ engagement when the class size is big become difficult.

This issue aims to provide an avenue for researchers to share their design strategies of using technology - in particular video conferencing - to create an online virtual classroom and the experiences and challenges they met in the implementation process.

Subject Coverage
Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Two-way live video conferencing for teaching and learning
• Online virtual classrooms
• Online virtual classroom design and implementation
• Social presence in an online learning environment
• Classroom climate in an online learning environment
• Transactional distance in an online learning environment
• Web conferencing for learning
• Computer-mediated distance learning
• Synchronous virtual classrooms
• Distance interactive classroom conferencing
• Interactive distance online course design
• Live teacher-supported distance learning
• Live video streaming environment
• Online distance learning with live video
• Distance learning with live video streaming
• Video-supported online learning environment
• Live and interactive online learning environment
• Real-time teaching and learning
• Synchronous online learning environments
• Technological self-efficacy in online learning environments

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper has been completely re-written and if appropriate written permissions have been obtained from any copyright holders of the original paper).

All papers are refereed through a peer review process.

All papers must be submitted online. To submit a paper, please read our Submitting articles page.

Important Dates

Manuscripts due by: 31 July, 2014

Notification to authors: 15 September, 2014

Final versions due by: 31 October, 2014