IRRODL Volume 7, Number 2

Abstract

Institutions of open and distance learning present a number of special challenges for academics.Development loads and teaching effectiveness are increasing, while traditional demands for research productivity have become a new and/ or increased pressure.The size, complexity, and structure of the networked learning environment at most institutions of open and distance learning have been known to contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness leading to disengagement experienced by many new and not so new academics.It is possible if we do not address the disconnectedness experienced by many open and distance academics and tutors that detachment to our institutions will occur, resulting in an increased migration to either collaborate with, or work in, other institutions.Retaining faculty members is not only important for the stability and health of open and distance organizations, but retention -and recruitment -are also issues that institutions of open and distance learning need to be concerned about.The large numbers of senior faculty appointed in the mid 1970s are moving into retirement and/ or later-life careers.It has been estimated that 40 percent of university faculty will retire within the next 10 years.Recruitment and retention of academics is a pressing concern for all universities -but particularly for open and distance universities.The current detached environment may result in a serious employment problem down the road as other traditional universities begin an intensive competition for the best academics.And while these problems exist to some extent at all universities, there is probably no other type of university where building a sense of community is needed.This theme issue on academics working in open and distance learning environments includes papers based on empirical research, theoretical analysis, and position papers dealing with issues, challenges, and possibilities for academics and tutors at open and distance learning environments.But before I introduce the papers for this theme issue, the editor, Terry Anderson, asked that I briefly outline some new changes made to IRRODL and to talk briefly about a readership survey developed for www.irrodl.org. Changes to IRRODL InterfaceFirst, Terry Anderson asked that I relay to you some news -specifically that IRRODL has survived the transition to the Open Journal System (OJS) journal management and publication system.He will be updating the user interface in the near future and hopes that readers have not been overly confused with IRRODL's "new look" and functionality.He advises one major reason Kanuka, Guest Editorial Volume 7, No. 2 2 the change was made was the capacity of OJS to format articles for harvesting using the Open Archives Initiative protocol.Unfortunately, the current generation of harvesters do not like abstracts composed of multiple languages.Thus, Terry has discontinued the publication translated abstracts for the time being.There was also question of the value of being able to read an abstract in a different language other than English, when the full text is only available in English.We also noted that the power of multiple language translation services of English text continues to improve.Terry suggests that Google Translation or AltaVista Babel Fish can be used to translate abstracts or even an entire article into any of the languages currently available.IRRODL did testdrive Babel Fish and Google Translation, and the results were passable (at least as far as Terry's linguistic skills could determine).Terry anticipates that this change will speed up production, increase harvesting of IRRODL metadata, reduce cost, and only marginally effect non-English speakers.Please let us know if you have concerns or suggestions to improve our multi-lingual services. Readership SurveyNext, Terry invites IRRODL readers to participate in an online readership survey.This survey is for quality control purposes only, and any data collected will not be shared beyond that of the immediate editorial team.The purpose for all data collected, is to determine areas where IRRODL needs to improve.