Information For Authors

Author Guidelines & Submission Manual

Welcome to the Journal of Educational Innovations and Practices (JEIP). JEIP is dedicated to publishing high-quality research that bridges the gap between educational theory and practice through innovative methodologies. We aim to serve as a vital platform for researchers, educators, and policymakers by offering scalable, evidence-based solutions.

To ensure a smooth review process and minimize the risk of "desk rejection," please follow this detailed guide strictly. This manual includes specific criteria, concrete examples of strong vs. weak writing, and mandatory templates for your submission.

1. Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have the following four separate files ready. Failure to provide these files or adhering to the anonymity rules will result in the submission being returned.

  • ✅ File 1: Title Page (Identifiable)
    Must include the full title, all author names, affiliations, ORCID IDs, corresponding author contact details, acknowledgments, and ALL declarations (Ethics, AI, Funding, etc.). (See Section 4 for details)
  • ✅ File 2: Blinded Manuscript (Anonymous)
    This is the file sent to reviewers. It must contain the Title, Abstract, Keywords, Main Text, References, and Tables/Figures.
    CRITICAL: Remove all author names, affiliations, e-mail addresses, and identifying acknowledgments from this file. Ensure file properties (metadata) are also cleared.
  • ✅ File 3: Copyright Transfer Agreement
    Must be signed by all authors (or the corresponding author on behalf of all). You can download the template from our website.
  • ✅ File 4: Similarity Report
    A PDF export from iThenticate or Turnitin. The overall similarity index must be < 25% (excluding bibliography/references). Matches of less than 1% can be disregarded.

2. Article Types & Scope

JEIP publishes innovative research across all levels of education (K-12 to Higher Education). We primarily accept:

  • Research Articles: Original empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods) presenting novel findings. Length: 6,000 – 12,000 words.
  • Review Articles: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses that critically synthesize existing literature to offer new insights. Length: 6,000 – 12,000 words.

Note: We prioritize studies focusing on innovation (e.g., AI, AR/VR, Learning Analytics) and practical application.

3. General Formatting Rules

  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.docx).
  • Font: Standard font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt).
  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout the entire document.
  • Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides.
  • Page Numbers: Required (bottom right corner).
  • Line Numbers: Recommended to facilitate the review process.
  • Headings: Use clear, numbered headings (1. Introduction, 2. Literature Review, etc.).

Reference Style: APA 7th Edition

JEIP strictly adheres to the APA 7th Edition standards.

  • In-text citations: (Author, Year) or Author (Year).
  • Reference List: Alphabetical order, hanging indent.
  • DOIs: Must be included for all journal articles where available (format: https://doi.org/xxxx).
  • Tables/Figures: Captions must follow APA 7 (Table number bold, title italicized below it).

4. File Preparation Guide

A. Title Page (File 1)

Since the main manuscript is blinded, this file is the only place for author details. It must contain:

  1. Manuscript Title: Full title.
  2. Author Details: Full name, Affiliation (Department, Faculty, University, City, Country), E-mail, and ORCID ID for every author.
  3. Corresponding Author: Clearly marked, with full postal address and phone number.
  4. Declarations: Include all mandatory statements here (see Section 6).
  5. Acknowledgments: Thank individuals or institutions here. E.g., "We thank the Principal of School X for facilitating data collection."

B. Blinded Manuscript (File 2)

Prepare this file for double-blind review:

  • Anonymize Authors: Remove names from below the title.
  • Blinding Citations: If citing your own previous work, use "(Author, Year)" instead of your name in the text and reference list.
  • Blinding Ethics/Locations: In the Method section, do not name the specific university or ethics committee. Use generic terms like "Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant University Ethics Committee."
  • Structure: Must include Title, Abstract, Keywords, Main Text (Introduction through Discussion), References, and Appendices.

5. Detailed Manuscript Structure

Please structure your manuscript according to the following guide. We have included examples of "Strong" vs. "Weak" content to help you meet our standards.

A. Title

Criteria: Concise, clear, and reflective of the content. Must reflect JEIP's focus on Innovation and Practice. Avoid unnecessary words.

❌ Weak Title: "A Study on Gamification in Education"
(Critique: Too general. Which level? Which context? What result?)

❌ Better Title: "The Effect of Gamification on Middle School Students' Motivation"
(Critique: Better, but lacks the specific "Innovation" emphasis.)

✅ Strong Title for JEIP: "The Effect of Augmented Reality (AR) Supported Gamification Practices on Academic Achievement and Critical Thinking Skills in Middle School Science Learning"
(Strengths: Specifies Innovation [AR Supported], Practice [Middle School Science], and Variables [Achievement, Critical Thinking].)

B. Abstract

Format: Structured abstract (200-250 words). Must include: Purpose, Method, Findings, Conclusion.

Sentence Templates for a Strong Abstract

  • Purpose: "The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of [Innovative Practice/Technology] on [Measured Variable] of [Participant Group]..."
  • Method: "The study employed a [Research Design, e.g., quasi-experimental design]. Data were collected from [N students] via [Data Collection Tools]..."
  • Findings: "Findings revealed that the experimental group using [Innovative Practice] showed a statistically significant increase in [Variable] compared to the control group (p < .05)."
  • Conclusion: "In conclusion, the use of [Innovative Practice] was found to be an effective method for enhancing [Outcome]. These findings offer important implications for [Educators/Policymakers]..."

C. Keywords

Provide 4-6 specific keywords for indexing.

  • ❌ Weak: Education, Technology, Students (Too broad).
  • ✅ Strong: Augmented Reality (AR), Gamification, Science Education, Critical Thinking, STEM.

D. Introduction

This section must logically flow through the following elements:

  1. Broad Context: Current state of the field.
  2. Specific Problem: What is the issue? (e.g., "Students struggle with abstract concepts in science").
  3. The Gap: What does existing literature lack?
    Example: "...existing AR studies mostly focus on motivation, but studies examining AR combined with gamification on critical thinking are rare."
  4. Originality & Purpose: How does this study fill that gap?
  5. Research Questions: Clear and answerable.

E. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework

Synthesis vs. Listing: Do not just list studies ("Author A said X, Author B said Y"). Instead, synthesize them under themes.

✅ Strong Synthesis Example: "Studies on AR consistently demonstrate positive effects on motivation (Author A, 2020; Author B, 2021). However, most fail to address higher-order cognitive skills (Author C, 2022). This leaves the question of cognitive load management unanswered, particularly from the perspective of Cognitive Load Theory."

F. Methodology

This section must be detailed enough to allow replication. Include the following subsections:

  • Research Design: Justify your design (e.g., "Explanatory sequential mixed methods").
  • Participants: Describe sampling (e.g., purposive) and demographics (N, age, gender) without identifying the school.
  • Data Collection Instruments: Provide evidence of validity and reliability (e.g., Cronbach's alpha).
  • Data Analysis: Explain procedures (e.g., "Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis").
  • Ethical Considerations: State that ethics approval and informed consent were obtained.
    Example: "This study was conducted with the approval of the [Blinded] Ethics Committee (Date, No). Informed consent was obtained from all participants."

G. Findings

Present results objectively. Use APA 7 tables/figures. Do not interpret findings here; save that for the Discussion.

✅ Quantitative Example: "Independent samples t-test results indicated that the AR group (M = 85.2) scored significantly higher than the control group (M = 72.1), t(98) = 15.2, p < .001."

✅ Qualitative Example: "Thematic analysis revealed the main theme 'Increased Engagement'. Student S12 stated: 'Science class used to be boring, but seeing planets on my desk got my attention...'"

H. Discussion & Conclusion

  • Interpretation: Explain why the result occurred. Link findings back to your Theoretical Framework.
  • Comparison: Contrast with previous literature (Consistent? Contradictory? Why?).
  • Conclusion: Summarize the main contribution concisely without new data.

I. Practical Implications

Crucial for JEIP: Provide actionable suggestions for practitioners.

✅ Example: "School administrators should budget for teacher professional development on pedagogical strategies (e.g., gamification) as much as for hardware procurement."

J. Limitations and Future Directions

Be honest about limitations (sample size, context). Suggest future research that builds on these limitations (e.g., "Future studies should test this in different cultural contexts").

6. Mandatory Declarations (Title Page Only)

Include the following statements in your Title Page file. Do not include them in the blinded manuscript.

1. Funding

Example: "This work was supported by [Funder Name] under Grant No: [XXXX]." OR "This research received no specific grant."

2. Conflict of Interest

Example: "The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper."

3. Ethics Committee Approval

Example: "Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the [University Name] Ethics Committee (Date: DD.MM.YYYY, Decision No: 2025/XX)."

4. Author Contributions

Example: "Conceptualization: Author A, Author B. Methodology: Author A. Data Analysis: Author B. Writing - Original Draft: Author A."

5. Data Availability Statement

Example: "The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request."

6. AI Usage Declaration

Option A (Used): "During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [Name of Tool, e.g., ChatGPT] in order to [Reason, e.g., improve language clarity]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content and take full responsibility for the content of the publication."

Option B (Not Used): "No AI tools were used in this study."

7. Review & Publication Process

JEIP follows a rigorous and transparent process:

  1. Submission: Author uploads files.
  2. Initial Check: Managing Editor checks scope, format, and plagiarism (iThenticate). Manuscripts with >25% similarity are rejected.
  3. Editor Assignment: Section Editor is assigned.
  4. Peer Review: Double-blind review by at least 2 independent experts.
  5. Decision: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.
  6. Revision: Author submits revised manuscript and a "Response to Reviewers" document (Deadline: 30 days).
  7. Production: Copy-editing and proofreading.
  8. Publication: Online First publication.

8. Fees & Language Editing

No Fees (Diamond Open Access)

JEIP charges NO submission fees and NO Article Processing Charges (APCs). Publishing is completely free.

Language Editing

Manuscripts must be in clear, academic English. Poor language may lead to desk rejection regardless of scientific merit. We strongly recommend professional language editing for non-native speakers before submission. JEIP does not provide editing services.

Ready to Submit?

If you have prepared your files according to these guidelines, proceed to our online system.

Submit Your Manuscript