Information For Authors

Authors submit their manuscripts online by registering with this journal then logging in and following an automated, five-step submission process. Topics must relate to online and/or blended learning.

Manuscripts, including all references, tables, and figures, should be approximately 6,000-9,500 words and should not exceed 10,000 words.  Tables and figures are encouraged, and they should be placed within the text, not at the end and include Alt-text where appropriate.

There are no article submission fees or access charges for publication in this open journal prior to or after acceptance of the article. The journal is open access and is supported by the Online Learning Consortium (please consider becoming a member of OLC - individual membership is free).

Fraudulent Communications Warning

The Online Learning Journal (OLJ) has been made aware of fraudulent emails, letters, and promotional materials falsely claiming to represent the journal. These communications may include fake acceptance letters, publication offers, or requests for payment.

Please note:

  • OLJ does not offer publication discounts, holiday promotions, or expedited review in exchange for payment.

  • All editorial decisions and official correspondence are issued only through OLJ’s online submission system.

  • OLJ does not send acceptance letters outside of the submission system.

  • OLJ will never request payment via unsolicited email.

If you receive a communication claiming to be from OLJ and are unsure of its legitimacy, we encourage you to verify it by contacting the journal directly through the official website.

How to Verify Legitimate OLJ Communications

Legitimate communications from the Online Learning Journal will always:

  • Reference a manuscript that you personally submitted to OLJ

  • Be accessible within the journal’s official submission system

  • Come from an OLJ staff or editorial member listed on our Editorial Team website
  • Follow OLJ’s published editorial and peer-review processes

If a message claims acceptance of a manuscript you did not submit, promises rapid publication for a fee, or uses promotional language inconsistent with scholarly publishing standards, it is likely fraudulent.

Authors who receive suspicious messages are encouraged to report them to OLJ so that we may continue to protect the scholarly community.

Quick Guide for Authors

This quick reference highlights key points from OLJ’s full Author Guidelines and Policies. Authors should consult the complete policy before submitting.

Scope and Suitability

  • OLJ publishes original research on online and blended learning, primarily in higher education.
  • Studies on digital tools are welcome only if linked to online/blended learning theory, practice, or outcomes—not tool-effectiveness in isolation.
  • Read previously published OLJ articles to understand our scope and to cite relevant literature.

Submission Basics

  • No submission or publication fees.
  • Quarterly publication (4 issues/year).
  • Open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY) license—authors keep copyright.
  • Manuscripts must follow APA 7th edition.

Authorship

  • All authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria:
  1. Significant contribution to the work.
  2. Drafted or critically revised the manuscript.
  3. Approved the final version.
  4. Accountable for all aspects of the work.
  • All authors must consent to be listed at submission.
  • No changes to the corresponding author after submission—violations result in rejection.

Peer Review

  • Double-blind review process.
  • Only the editorial team and assigned reviewers see your manuscript.
  • Reviewers follow strict confidentiality and ethics guidelines (COPE/ICMJE).
  • Reviewers cannot upload manuscripts to AI tools or third-party platforms.

Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors: Disclose any relationships or activities that may bias your work.
  • Reviewers & Editors: Must disclose conflicts before participating in review or decision-making.

Ethics and Research Integrity

  • All manuscripts screened for plagiarism.
  • Human participant research must have ethics board approval or exemption.
  • Any AI use in writing, analysis, or idea generation must be acknowledged in the manuscript.

After Publication

  • Articles are indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and other databases.
  • Authors may share any version of their article (submitted, accepted, or published) with no embargo.
  • Post-publication corrections follow COPE guidance.

Questions or Complaints

  • Direct inquiries to the Managing Editor.
  • Decisions on manuscripts are final.

Full guidelines: About the Journal
Contact: Dr. Carrie Lewis Miller, Managing Editor, Carrie.Miller@onlinelearning-c.org

Become an OLJ Peer Reviewer!

We encourage our authors to also become peer-reviewers for OLJ! You can indicate your interest by logging into the OLJ system and clicking on your profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen then "Edit Profile".  Chose the "Roles" tab then click the box next to the Reviewer box. Enter your areas of expertise, then click the "Save" button when you are done. Keep an eye on your inbox (and perhaps your spam folder as well) for invitations to review.

Screenshot of a user profile settings page showing the "Roles" tab selected. Under Roles, checkboxes for Reader, Author, and Reviewer are visible, with Reader and Reviewer checked. A text box labeled "Reviewing interests" is empty. The Save button is located in the bottom right corner.

Serving as a peer reviewer is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to your discipline and strengthen your own scholarly practice. By reviewing, you:

  • Give Back to the Scholarly Community – Peer review is built on reciprocity; as an author, you’ve benefited from feedback, and reviewing ensures you help others in turn.
  • Stay Current in the Field – Gain early access to cutting-edge research and emerging trends before they’re published.
  • Sharpen Your Own Research and Writing Skills – Evaluating others’ work deepens your ability to structure arguments, assess methods, and identify strengths and weaknesses in your own manuscripts.
  • Contribute Service at the National Level – Reviewing for a reputable journal is a high-value professional service to your discipline.
  • Strengthen Your Tenure and Promotion Case – We can provide letters of acknowledgement for your reviewer contributions to include in your tenure and promotion materials.

Your expertise helps maintain the quality, integrity, and impact of research in the field—making a difference for both authors and readers worldwide.