New Special Issue: Evidence Synthesis in Open, Distance, and Digital Education
Online Learning (OLJ) is pleased to announce the publication of its latest special issue, Evidence Synthesis in Open, Distance, and Digital Education, Volume 30, Special Issue 2 (2026).
As research in online, distance, and digital education continues to expand, rigorous evidence synthesis plays an increasingly important role in identifying trends, evaluating existing knowledge, and informing educational practice and policy.
Guest edited by Olaf Zawacki-Richter, Florence Martin, Melissa Bond, and Richard E. West, this special issue brings together 14 research contributions and an introductory editorial examining contemporary challenges, emerging developments, and methodological approaches in evidence synthesis.
The articles address a diverse range of topics, including artificial intelligence and AI literacy, self-regulated learning, student motivation and engagement, learner retention and success, the Community of Inquiry framework, and methodological considerations in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Together, these contributions demonstrate the value of rigorous, transparent, and reproducible research synthesis in advancing our understanding of online, distance, and digital education.
The full special issue is available open access through Online Learning.
