The current issue of the Journal of Online Graduate Education (JOGE) marks the culmination of our eighth year as a scholarly journal sponsored by National University and formerly Northcentral University. The JOGE has evolved through numerous changes in the online publishing landscape, rapid growth in online graduate education — our area of scope — and a university merger in recent years. Over the past few years, the journal’s name updated from IJOGE to JOGE, and we extended our reach and permanence in the scholarly community with indexing in and recognition from ERIC, EBSCOHost, and Crossref. Along with this evolution and our second issue of the eighth volume of JOGE comes a transition to the Scholastica journal management system, with a fresh look and feel that increases accessibility and visibility for our audience, authors, peer reviewers, and editorial team. Thank you, readers, for joining us in this season of change!
The philosophy behind JOGE and its supportive infrastructure at National University is to uplift the scholarly community, creating opportunities for faculty, students, alumni, and staff alike. We encourage all academic voices, aiming to foster diverse perspectives and nurture scholarly growth. Our scholarly outreach extends beyond the virtual walls of National University to welcome authors and peer reviewers at all career stages and worldwide who are interested in the scholarly study and practice of online graduate education. The evolution of JOGE into the Scholastica journal management system fosters fresh growth this season and beyond.
As the season steadies itself into fall this November, with the landscape evolving to colorful trees and autumnal skies, I reflect mindfully as the editor of JOGE on this season of growth, change, and evolution. Autumn will soon give way to winter, then spring and summer, and eventually return to autumn again. Nature will always bring forth new growth in due time, and life will continue to change. Just as nature evolves, so too does the landscape of education and scholarship. In the changing landscape, alongside steady growth over time, certain core ideas and values remain constant. The JOGE values contributing to the scholarly landscape by highlighting and nurturing diverse academic voices from within our scholarly network and beyond. We encourage scholars worldwide to be involved in JOGE and to be a part of our journal’s growth.
In this issue, JOGE presents three articles that explore rich themes centered on humanity in evolving times, such as the quest for belonging and the interplay between humanity and technology for online adult learners. These scholarly contributions weave together seminal understandings and classic concepts from the fields of psychology, philosophy, education, and social work. I encourage you to consider how these three articles with theoretical perspectives from Adler (1933/1964), Allen et al. (2022), Heidegger (1977), and Mezirow (1991) relate to the core idea and value of a sense of belonging and community for learners — and for humans more generally. In times of change, growth, and evolution, keeping a sense of belonging and community is especially key. The JOGE’s current issue also highlights the ongoing evolution of scholarly thought and practice, with a reminder of how scholarly ideas and methodologies continue to transform, much like the seasons. The history of scholarly publishing and publishing more generally has evolved rapidly, from the advent of the printing press to today’s open-access online journals.
On a personal note, I reflect on the proud traditions in publishing and academia that have shaped my own journey toward becoming the editor of JOGE a few years ago. Growing up, I was surrounded by stories of my grandfather, the International Editor of The New York Times during World War II, and my great-aunt, who earned her Ed.D. before most women could attend college and went on to have an esteemed career as a professor of teacher education in the 1960s and 1970s. The bookshelf in my childhood home was full of wonderful books, gifts from many family members who shared an unwavering passion for literature and learning. I still cherish the special books from my childhood bookshelf, which were given to me by my aunt and uncle, who dedicated their long careers to excellence in professional copyediting and publishing. That long tradition inspires me as the editor of JOGE, as I work alongside the rest of our editorial team and board members during this season of change. My relatives who loved words as much as I do may have had different tools and contexts, but the core ideas and values remain constant.
Further expansion for JOGE is on the horizon, including the introduction of another NU-sponsored scholarly publication, the Journal of Instructional Design and Technology (JOIDAT), as well as the promise of exciting collaborations ahead. As we navigate these seasons of change, we embrace the continued evolution of scholarship and the vibrant community that surrounds it. Let us celebrate these seasons of change together!
Maggie Broderick, PhD - Editor of JOGE