Getting Published
Once you have a clear research question, have sought out ethical approval/exemption, and have meaningful data, you will now be at a point where you can consider a conference paper and/or peer reviewed publication. It can be helpful to make this decision before you start to write up your research as many of the journals/conferences have different emphasis, formatting and referencing styles.
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The following four journals have been regularly targeted by UCD staff when publishing in teaching and learning research. They are all UK-based:
Where can I publish or present my research?
Depending on your confidence with the strength of your research, you may decide to start with a conference/journal or a web-page showcase with no quantified, standardised impact factor. UCD Teaching and Learning regularly seek out research for showcases of innovations in teaching and learning for sharing across the institution and externally. Given that these showcases are not externally peer-reviewed, they are a low stakes way of sharing your research with the wider public but without the additional requirements for impact factor journals. If, however, you are interested in publishing in a journal with an impact factor, see our compiled list below.
Journals
You could also target a wide range of general and discipline-specific journals based in the US. For a comprehensive list, see the Scimago journal rankings pages. For educational technology journals, see the International Council for Open and Distance Learning.
UCD colleagues Geraldine O’Neill (T&L), Susan Boyle (UCD Library) and Carmel Norris (UCD Library) have collated a list of educational journals for sharing with UCD staff. (You will be taken to your secure UCD log in first).
The list is a work in progress. They are also gathering data on UCD staff who have published in these journals, so you and your colleagues can contact them directly to learn about their experiences.
If you have published in a journal and would like to add you name to this list, or if would like to amend any other details, please use this form to amend this list
Conferences
Conferences are another method of sharing your research work and may be a better first step into disseminating your work, especially if you have not published on your teaching before.
Some conference papers may have an impact factor, so please check their websites for details on this. Conferences are a good way to share your work in a public domain and receive feedback on it before you approach a high impact journal. Some established Irish conferences to share your teaching and learning research are:
- All Ireland Conference on Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Further and Higher Education Conferences (AISHEC)
- Ireland International Conference on Education (IICE)
- The International Conference on Engaging Pedagogy (ICEP)
- Irish Learning Technology Association Conference
- See also the Irish National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Events list
- The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)
- The European group of the International Society for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (EUROSOTL)
Regular conferences also take place in the UK in educational institutions. For a list of upcoming events see the UK HEA website.
In addition many disciplines host their own education conferences, for example Engineering Education Conference, Medical Education conferences.
Video: Research into Teaching and Learning - Getting Published
This online workshop will build on prior understanding of research into teaching and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and will provide insights into publication formats and outlets. Additionally, it will facilitate engagement in local and larger networks of educational researchers for peer review and support. You can also access the slides featured in the video.
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Peer Support
If you have not published in this area before, you may find it useful and supportive to call on a colleague to provide you with some feedback on early drafts.
UCD Teaching & Learning holds a list of staff interested in teaching and learning research, and we can connect you with a UCD colleague. If you are interested contact Assoc Prof Geraldine O’Neill.
We also provide enhanced support through our dedicated professional development module "Getting Published in Teaching". This module is offered as part of the suite on the University Teaching and Learning Programmes. Some restrictions apply so please contact teachingandlearning@ucd.ie for more details.