What the e-Learning Leader Needs to Know: Leading and Managing e-Learning

Anthony A. Piña (Sullivan University), Victoria Walker (Purdue University)
and Bruce R. Harris (Dixie State University), Editors

AECT/Springer Series on Educational Communications & Technology: Issues & Innovations
J. Michael Spector, MJ Bishop and Dirk Ifenthaler, Series Editors

Initial Proposal Submission Deadline: December 4, 2015

As online learning has continued to grow in size, scope and significance, many of the boundaries separating face-to-face and distance education are blurring. Online, blended/hybrid, web-enhanced and flipped courses are making e-Learning more institutionalized and ubiquitous in both academic and non-academic settings.

Many useful books are available to assist e-learning students and instructors and those who develop or research e-learning; however, there is a dearth of books designed to provide a current and comprehensive reference of e-learning issues, practices and technologies for those assigned to lead and manage the e-learning programs and operations within their organizations.

The Division of Distance Learning of the Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT-DDL), in conjunction with Springer Publishing’s AECT Books and Briefs Project, will address the gap in the e-learning leadership/management literature through the publication of “What the e-Learning Leader Needs to Know: Leading and Managing e-Learning.”

Scope

What the e-Learning Leader Needs to Know: Leading and Managing e-Learning will provide those who oversee e-learning essential knowledge of issues, best practices, and technologies to facilitate effective decision making. Although references within chapters to empirical studies are welcome, this book has a highly practical orientation and is intended primarily to be a “how-to” and “nuts and bolts” reference tool for practicing leaders/managers who find themselves in charge of e-learning initiatives and operations. It will also be useful for programs preparing future leaders, for currently professional aspiring to a leadership position or for researchers looking for topics and variables to study in a dynamic and evolving field.

Topics of interest for this publication include—but are not limited to—the following items. Certain topics may require more than a single chapter.
• Establishing an e-learning program
• Centralized and decentralized institutional/organizational structures for e-learning programs
• The e-learning department/division/center
• Planning, policies and procedures
• Technology infrastructure
• Learning management systems
• Learning technologies (synchronous, 3rd party vendor sites, Web 2.0, apps, etc.)
• Characteristics of successful e-learners and promoting self-regulated e-learners
• Marketing & promotion of the e-learning program
• Admitting, matriculating and providing financial assistance to e-learners
• Transfer student issues (e.g. transfer credit, prior learning assessment, fake credentials, assessment of readiness for online learning)
• Student services for supporting and retaining e-learners (e.g. tutoring, counseling, advising)
• Recruiting, training, supporting and assessing e-learning faculty
• Overseeing the design and development of e-learning curriculum and courses
• Assessing and evaluating e-learning courses and programs
• Issues of integrity and etiquette
• E-learning regulations and accreditation
• Keeping current and staying informed

Submission Procedure

E-learning professionals and e-learning scholars are invited to submit a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly describing their proposed chapters (see proposal form below). Authors of accepted proposals will be notified about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Chapters will be peer-reviewed. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers.

Anticipated Timeline

10/12/15: Call for chapter proposals
12/04/15: Proposal submission deadline
12/18/15: Notification of proposal acceptance w/chapter submission instructions
03/18/16: Chapter submission deadline
05/10/16: Notification of final chapter acceptance w/chapter revision/edit instructions
06/30/16: Revised chapter submission deadline (address peer reviewer comments)

Editor Contacts

Dr. Anthony A. Piña is Dean of Sullivan University System’s Online Division. He is author/editor of the books Distance Learning and the Institution, Real-Life Distance Education: Case Studies in Practice and the upcoming Beyond the Online Course: Leadership Perspectives on e-Learning and is President-Elect of the AECT Division of Distance Learning (starting November 6).

Dr. Victoria L. Walker is Program Convener of the Online Master’s of Science in Education (MSEd), Learning Design and Technology program at Purdue University. She is on the Board of the AECT Division of Distance Learning.

Dr. Bruce Harris is the Founding Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at Dixie State University. He has more than two decades of experience in online/distance education.

Please send correspondence to:

Dr. Anthony A. Piña
Dean, Sullivan University System Online
2100 Gardiner Lane #301
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 413-8848 Email: apina@sullivan.edu