The Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning (previously The Journal of Distance Learning) invites original contributions related to distance education that relate to the four streams of scholarship proposed by Boyer (1990):

• Discovery – investigative research, with supporting evidence for new ideas. What is to be found? Discovery research is typically study-based, grounded in existing literature and with sound methodology.
• Integration – the bringing together of existing ideas in a summarised form, with key themes identified. What does what is found actually mean? Integration involves working with existing ideas, based on extensive literature review across disciplines.
• Application – accounts of how distance education theory has been implemented in operational contexts. How can what is found be used? Application firmly rests on literature, providing an account of how theory has been applied and providing transferable lessons and opportunities for further research based on the experience.
• Teaching – accounts of innovative practice, preferably informed by student evaluation. How can what is found be understood by others? Teaching research is more than a ‘look at what we did’; it is informed, reflective and ultimately useful in other settings.

Note that not all streams will necessarily be equally represented across each issue. All articles received must be well contextualised, highlight transferable knowledge, have a strong conceptual base and be well grounded in distance education literature. Contributors in the Pacific Rim are particularly invited to submit manuscripts for consideration. All submissions are peer-reviewed. The language of publication is English (please note that a high level of English is expected).

Manuscript style. Three distinct types of manuscript are invited.

• Original research. Submissions of between 3000 and 6000 words, addressing one or more of Boyer's (1990) forms of scholarship above. A 100 word abstract must be included.
• Research notes or reports. Submissions of up to 4000 words about current research in the area of distance education.
• Book reviews. Submissions of up to 1000 words reviewing a book related to distance education theory and practice.

Author(s) should provide a full name, title and affiliation, full details of postal address, telephone number, and email address. Brief biographical details for each named author (no more than 50 words per author) should also be included, and an email address for a corresponding author provided.

Submitting a manuscript. Please provide a manuscript in Word (.doc), Open Office (.odt) or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Other formats (including .docx) may be returned to the author for resubmission. Email the article as an attachment to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Acknowledgement from the editor will shortly follow. Submission of a paper to The Journal of Distance Learning will be taken to imply that it represents work not previously published, that it is not being considered for publication elsewhere, and that the contributor has obtained all necessary permission and paid any fees for the use of copyrighted materials. Authors should follow the published guidelines of the American Psychological Association (Publication manual, 2001, 5th ed.). Tables and figures should be designed to fit into one column (70mm) or two columns (145mm). Contributors therefore undertake to indemnify the Distance Education Association of New Zealand for any loss obtained in consequences of any breach of copyright. 

Refereeing. The editorial board for the journal is listed on the inside cover. Referees are committed to returning referee reports within three weeks, so a four week turnaround for final decision and feedback can be expected. Additional referees may be consulted from time to time.

The Association is not responsible for opinions or statements of authors in this journal.

Contributors of articles accepted for publication will receive one free copy of the issue of The Journal of Distance Learning in which their paper is published.  

Boyer, E.L. (1990). Scholarship reconsidered: Priorities of the professoriate. USA: Jossey-Bass.