Jan 2002 - Volume 1 Issue 1

Editorial by John Feather
Loughborough University

ITALICS is the journal of the Learning and Teaching Subject Network for Information and Computer Science (LTSN-ICS).

The LTSN has been established by the four Higher Education funding bodies in the UK to promote best practice in learning and teaching in universities and other higher education institutions. It has a particular mission to develop and disseminate initiatives in the delivery of learning to students. There are 24 centres which between them cover most of the subjects to be found in the sector. The Centre for Information and Computing Science is, uniquely, based at two centres, the University of Ulster and Loughborough University, which are the centres for computer science and information studies respectively.

LTSN-ICS, like all the LTSNs, is developing its own operational strategies, within the broad objectives of the national scheme. We are particularly concerned to reflect the preoccupations and priorities of those whom we exist to serve – those engaged in learning and teaching in our disciplines. This will take many forms: workshops, virtual discussion groups, presentations, paper and visits by the staff of the Centre and ITALICS.

We see ITALICS as an important mechanism for reaching our key objectives. It will enable us to put into public domain the results of important pioneering work in the delivery of learning in computer science and information studies. The papers we publish are anonymously peer-reviewed by referees. Our Editorial Board, chaired by Professor Peter Enser of the University of Brighton and the current President of the Institute of Information Scientists, is exceptionally well placed to ensure that we reach the highest standards.

It is a deliberate policy that ITALICS is a genuine electronic journal, which exists in no other form. Submission, refereeing, revision and publication all take place in a virtual environment. There will, of course, be an archived store of published papers, and they will be available for the foreseeable future. In line with the policy of the HE funding bodies, this journal is free of all charges to users.

The first issues contains three papers which reflect the range of the domains with which we are concerned. In future, we shall publish papers as and when they are ready, and cumulate them into a numbered issue from time to time.

We are pleased to be able to offer this service to the academic community, and welcome your comments on it.

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