Journal profile · EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Journal of Formative Design in Learning
ISSN 2509-8039
Journal of Formative Design in Learning: CAS Zone 4 · Education (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2 (journal website); hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,190; median 385 days to acceptance (14 articles, last 24 months); 14 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Formative Design in Learning is in Zone 4 of Education in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Online and Blended Learning, Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods and Educational Games and Gamification, together about 27.9% of its articles. Its main subfields are Education. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Formative Design in Learning is a peer-reviewed academic journal published bi-annually and sponsored by the Association of Educational Communication & Technology (AECT). JFDL is focused on the exploration and implementation of formative design in teaching and learning, which we define as the deliberate and iterative process of creating educational experiences that are continuously shaped and improved by feedback and evidence gathered during the design and implementation stages. This approach emphasizes the importance of adjusting strategies and materials based on ongoing assessment of learner progress and interaction with content. Our aim is to provide a platform for sharing research-supported practices that highlight the role of formative design in improving teaching and learning outcomes in diverse contexts. We welcome submissions from a wide range of empirical research, including but not limited to evaluation studies, action research, case studies, and reflective practice, that contribute to the continuous improvement of instructional strategies and design methodologies. JFDL promotes the integration of theoretical insights and practical applications, underlining formative design as a responsive, evolving practice, developed through reflective analysis and the application of research to practice. Our scope is deliberately broad to encompass contributions from both seasoned researchers and practitioners as well as from those early in their careers, such as junior faculty and emerging scholars. Reading JFDL provides insights into the dynamic nature of educational development and offers evidence-based strategies for effective teaching and learning. Authors considering a submission to JFDL should align their work with the core tenet of formative design: that educational development is a responsive and evolving practice, crafted through reflective analysis and the application of research to practice.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Editor-in-chief Charles XiaoxuePublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 11%); most named United States 12, Mainland China 2, United Kingdom 1, Spain 1, Brazil 1 (18 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Online and Blended LearningSocial Sciences11.7%
- Innovative Teaching and Learning MethodsPsychology8.6%
- Educational Games and GamificationPsychology7.6%
- Student Assessment and FeedbackSocial Sciences6.1%
- Innovative Teaching MethodsSocial Sciences5.1%
- Reflective Practices in EducationSocial Sciences4.6%
- Teaching and Learning ProgrammingComputer Science4.1%
- Design Education and PracticeEngineering4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Education Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Education Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Education | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Education & Educational Research | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCILetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSSPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.7Publisher website ·
- h-index
- 17OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 35OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.84OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 40.54%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 14LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2,025Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 43,900Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 117 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 56 |
| 2023 | 14 | 8 | 103 |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 | 105 |
| 2021 | 11 | 1 | 68 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
385 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 335 days – 515 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 18 days (27 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 399 days
- Sample
- 14 articles with submission and acceptance dates (24 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Submission to first decision
- 36 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,190 / EUR 2,590 / GBP 2,290 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted1
- editorialDouble-blind peer review This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout p…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, Open access, Peer review, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Formative Design in Learning, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Double-blind peer review
This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout peer review. It is the responsibility of the author to anonymize the manuscript and any associated materials. Author names, affiliations and any other potentially identifying information should be removed from the manuscript text and any accompanying files (such as …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of a clinical trial is "any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes". The WHO defines health interventions as “A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to ass…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- ISSN
- 2509-8039
- Society / sponsor
- Association for Educational Communications & Technology
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 10, Issue 1 (June 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Formative Design in Learning
What CAS zone is Journal of Formative Design in Learning in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Formative Design in Learning is in Zone 4 of Education, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Education & Educational Research. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Education. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Formative Design in Learning?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 2 (2025); this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; h-index 17.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Formative Design in Learning?
Based on the dates recorded on 14 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 385 days (interquartile range 335–515 days). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Formative Design in Learning?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Formative Design in Learning based?
Of the 18 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 11%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (12), Mainland China (2) and United Kingdom (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Formative Design in Learning?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Formative Design in Learning is indexed in ESCI.
Is Journal of Formative Design in Learning open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Formative Design in Learning is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,190.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .