Aims and Objectives

The Indian journal of Open Learning (IJOL) was started in 1992 by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to disseminate information about theory, practice and research in the field of open and distance learning including correspondence and multi-media education, educational technology and communication, independent and experiential learning and other innovative forms of education; and to provide a forum to researchers for debate across the world on these areas of concern with particular reference to India and other developing nations.

In line with the objectives of the journal, the editors seek articles and research papers (4000-8000 words) short notes based on research and experience, etc. (2000-4000 words) and book reviews (within 2000 words) for publication. All articles and papers are referred for independent review by peer experts. The author should refer “Notes for Contributors” (available on IJOL site at http://www.ignou.ac.in/ijol/ijol.html) for length, format, and style, and allow the editors at least two months for communicating the decision. Authors may be required to revise their work or to accept the amendments made by the editors. Authors may submit contributions in 3.5 inch PC compatible word floppy diskette (with file name) or in hard copy, with an undertaking that the contribution is exclusively for IJOL.

Publishers and authors are invited to submit books (two copies each) on open and distance education, education technology and communication media in education and related fields for review, to the Book Review Editor.

Editorial Advisory Board 

CHIEF EDITOR

Prof. S.C. Garg, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU  

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Prof. Madhulika Kaushik, SOMS, IGNOU 
Prof. S.K. Panda, STRIDE, IGNOU
Prof. Anant Joshi, SOE, YCMOU

NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

The editors invite original, scholarly articles and research papers within the aim and scope of the journal.  Articles, etc. that have not been published previously or submitted elsewhere, and that are not under review for another publication in any medium ( e.g. printed journal, conference proceedings, electronic or optical medium) should be submitted to the Editor, Indian Journal of Open Learning (IJOL).  Copyright clearance for materials used in the article should be obtained by the author(s).  It will be assumed that submission of an article to this journal implies that all the foregoing conditions are applicable.

Peer Review:  All contributions submitted will be subjected to peer review.  To allow anonymous refereeing, please submit author(s) identification, affiliation, etc. in a separate sheet (not in the main text of the article).

Format: Papers (3000-6000 words normally, 8000-10000 words in exceptional cases), short communications (1500-3000 words) on new ideas/new areas of work/innovations/action research/ongoing investigations/conference and seminar and workshop outcomes, and book reviews ( 1500-2000 words) should be nearly typed on one side of A4 size paper with double spacing and a wide margin to the left.  Two copies of the paper should be submitted, and electronic version should be on 3.5 inch, high-density floppy diskette, and in PC compatible Word 7.0 document format – enclose a hard copy version of the paper along with details of file name, etc. for fast processing.

Organisation: The general organisation of research papers should be as follows: the nature and scope of the study should be stated first, then the details of methods, materials, tools, procedures and/or equipments used: followed by findings, discussion and conclusion.  Appendices may be used to amplify details where appropriate.  Scholarly papers should have introduction, main sections and sub-sections, and conclusion.

Tables and Figures should be typed in separate sheets and their position in the text should be indicated clearly.  Please supply camera ready copy of all figures, as these shall not normally be redrawn.

Footnotes to the test should be avoided, but where used, should be numbered consecutively and presented as endnotes.

Citations of other works should be limited to those strictly necessary for arguments.  Short quotations should be included in the text within inverted commas (“ “) and quotations of more than 30 words should be placed in a separate paragraph indented from the main body of the text.  However, all quotations should be accompanied by precise references, in author date style.  Copyrights of others’ works in the text, wherever applicable, shall be obtained by the authors.

References should be indicated in the text by giving the name of author(s), with the year of publication of parentheses.  If more than one paper by the same author(s) from the same year are cites, a,b,c, etc. should be put after the year of publication.  All references should be alphabetically listed at the end of the paper in the following standard format.

Books: Keegan, D. (1986) Foundations of Distance Education, London: Croom Helm

Journal Articles: Jegede, Olugbemire J. (1995) Anxiety.levels and factors which engender them among tertiary distance learners, Indian Journal of Open Learning, 4 (1), 1-6.

Book Chapters: Ram Reddy, G. (1988) ‘Distance education: what, why and how’, in Koul, B.N. et al (Eds). Studies in Distance Education, New Delhi: AIU & IGNOU.

Conference Papers: Gooler, Dennis D. (1981) ‘Critical issues in evaluating distance education’, Discussion paper presented at the Regional Symposium on Distance Teaching in Asia, University Sains Malaysia, 4-7 May.

Dissertations: Singh S.K. (1994) ‘Problems of women pursuing university degree course through distance education in India’, MEd Dissertation, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Offprints: Twenty-five offprints along with a copy of the journal would be supplied to the first author, and a copy of the journal to each of the co-authors.  

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE

All articles, research papers, short communications, book reviews should be addressed to

Prof. S.C. GARG
Chief Editor, IJOL,
PVG(G) Office, Block 8

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110 068
Tel.: 91+11+29535075 Fax: 91+11+29535084

The authors interested in sending their contributions through e-mail are requested to send them to <ijol@ignou.ac.in>. All correspondence pertaining to the journal may also be sent at same address.