About the Journal

Learning Letters - Why a new journal?

The pace of progress in learning sciences, learning analytics, educational data mining, and AI in education is advancing. We are launching this new publication, Learning Letters, to accelerate the pace at which science in learning moves from the lab to dissemination. The traditional publication process often takes 12 to18 months to move from article submission through to publication. We are interested in developing a new approach to publishing research in the “educational technology, learning analytics, and AI in learning” space. In particular, we want to reduce time to publication and put a sharper focus on results and outputs of studies.

Learning Letters features innovative discoveries and advanced conceptual papers at the intersection of technology, learning sciences, design, psychology, computer science, and AI. Our commitment is a two week turn-around from submission to notification. Once revisions have been made, the article will be published within a week of final editing. As a result, an article could move from submission to publication in less than four weeks, while having undergone rigorous peer review.

What makes Learning Letters unique is the focus on the results and outputs of research. Articles in Learning Letters follow the model adopted by Nature: short, concise articles (maximum 2,500 words) that detail findings rather than extensive literature review and background. Our aim is to rapidly support sharing new research and results in emerging topics.

Secondly, each article published in Learning Letters can be supported with a learning module in LIFT Learning. LIFT Learning is a platform where authors can share more background, and engage in informal discussions and short videos of findings with co-authors. Each learning module can be about 1 to 2 hours of content, including video lectures, podcasts, and supplementary resources as well as pre-planned self-directed learning. The Learning Letters editors will provide authors with learning design support to have their article set in LIFT Learning. We expect this will result in broader dissemination of research and increased citations and, above all, will stimulate interaction between authors and readers.

Aims and scope

Learning Letters is a rapid peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes short, high-quality articles on novel reviews, methods and analysis, and opinion pieces on trends and developments in the learning sciences. While the scope of Learner Letters is broad, the journal emphasises learning analytics, cognitive sciences in education, educational computer sciences, artificial intelligence in learning, and systemic change. Learning Letters focuses on methodology and new discoveries through short articles that highlight new research. Journals commonly adopt a long article format with extensive literature review and contextualising commentary. With rapid advances in educational technology, short and concise articles that share findings are needed by educators, university and school leaders, and society.

Selection criteria

The criteria for acceptance are: scientific excellence, work of outstanding quality and international importance, and originality and interest across disciplines within higher education. To be acceptable for publication a paper should represent a significant advance in its field, rather than something incremental.

Articles must not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere.

All manuscripts are assessed by a member of the editorial board, who advises the Handling Editor on the suitability of the manuscript for Learning Letters.

The Handling Editors and Editor-in-Chief are responsible for all final editorial decisions and make these decisions based on the reports received from the referees and board members.

Publishing format

Articles are limited to 2,500 words in order to present succinct research. Supplementary material can be lodged in electronic format, including publication of data, scripts, and additional methodological procedures. Larger datasets must be deposited in recognised public domain databases by the author.

The 2,500 word limit is for the manuscript body. The abstract and references are not included in the word count. ALL other text is included. The word count is strictly enforced. Please keep figures and tables to a minimum.

What makes Learning Letters unique?

Learning letters is unique in its focus on rapid dissemination of novel research results and its support of interaction with readers through online learning modules, webinars and other learning events.

Article types

Articles include novel research in AI, learning analytics, systemic change, complexity science, and cognitive sciences. Articles should present new findings. Innovative methodologies will also be considered if they have the potential to help researchers advance learning sciences research.