Call for Papers: Designing Flexible Learning for Digital Education

2024-12-11

This issue aims to bring together research, practice, and theoretical insights on designing learning environments that respond dynamically to the diverse needs of learners in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Theme and Scope

The landscape of higher education has rapidly evolved, particularly due to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for adaptive and resilient teaching models. Blended and hybrid learning, integrating online and in-person approaches, have emerged as a vital strategy for maintaining high educational standards while enhancing accessibility and engagement. Central to this shift is digital education, supporting flexible learning through digital tools and pedagogies that empower both students and educators.

Flexible learning design is at the forefront of transforming education by fostering adaptability, accessibility, and innovation. Flexible teaching is characterized by adaptability, allowing learning anytime and anywhere with flexible teaching strategies and digitally proficient educators, resulting in innovative learning outcomes.

Flexible learning, flexible learning design and flexible teaching are critical for adapting education to evolving needs and ensuring it remains resilient.

This special issue seeks contributions that explore the design and implementation of flexible learning models within digital education. We invite articles that address the following topics:

  • Adaptive Learning Frameworks: Developing and implementing adaptive learning systems to enhance personalized learning.
  • Open and distance education: Directions of flexible learning design and new scenarios of open and distance education.
  • Technological Innovations: Exploring cutting-edge tools and platforms that facilitate flexible learning (design).
  • Voice to the students: The impact of flexible teaching models on student engagement, performance, and learning outcomes.
  • Learner Agency and Flexibility: Enabling learners to shape their educational pathways in digital contexts.
  • Digital Inclusion and Accessibility: Addressing inclusivity and accessibility through flexible learning design.
  • Assessment and Feedback: Innovative approaches to evaluating learner outcomes in flexible and dynamic educational settings.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of flexible and digital education models in diverse educational settings.
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Examining flexible learning practices in diverse global contexts.
  • Designing for Uncertainty: Creating learning environments resilient to disruptions, such as those seen during the global shift to online learning.
  • Challenges of IA

We encourage research that highlights best practices, case studies, and innovative methodologies in designing flexible learning for digital education.

This call for papers draws inspiration from ERASMUS+ projects Learning Design Flexible Education and European Network for D-Flexible Learning, which underscores the necessity of flexibility as a guiding principle for future-ready education. 

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the formatting and referencing guidelines available at   Revista de Educação a Distância e eLearning – RE@D: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/lead_read/about/submissions

Review Process

Submissions will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure quality and relevance to the theme. 

Key Dates

Submission of proposals: ongoing until July 20, 2025

Authors will be notified within 3 months from the date of submission

Deadline for receiving final articles: December 15, 2025. 

Guest Editors

Lina Morgado – Universidade Aberta (UAb), Portugal

Ana Afonso - Universidade Aberta (UAb), Portugal

Ingrid Noguera - Universidade Autónoma Barcelona (UAB), Spain