Transitions
From Lorie Wood, co-editor
Stepping into the role of co-editor of the IEC’s academic journal is one of the many transitions I have made over the past several months. While most were of a more personal nature, primarily moving from five years of online teaching back to classroom teaching, I discovered that I was not alone in my transitions at the IEC. As I became more and more acquainted with the faculty, administration and program, I discovered there were many such transitions taking place in every aspect of the IEC. So transition became the obvious choice for the Flatirons Forum first topic of focus as we transitioned to new editorial leadership.
Parmelee Welsh and I have assumed the roles of co-editors for the voice of the IEC, previously known as ESLevations. The name change is but one more transition. The new name, Flatirons Forum, reflects the transition in vision we see for the journal and our readership. The work, research and innovation currently taking place at the IEC is being recognized globally by other institutions and governments and therefore deserving of an academic, scholarly journal that has a greater presence on the World Wide Web. Although we are eagerly looking forward to this transition coming to fruition, the ESLevations editor and contributors are to be commended for the great grass roots journal created to give a voice to the work being done at the IEC. Without their tremendous contribution, this transition, at this time, would not be possible.
To help achieve this goal of becoming a more globalized and diverse voice, we are now a web-based journal. We are excited about this new format and the doors it will open in terms of its accessibility and potential for growth. We have also made some changes in terms of the article types being included in the Flatirons Forum. We have created a section, Practice & Pedagogy, for an in-depth look at pedagogy, including theory, research and classroom practice, the section, Reviews & Resources, for evaluating materials, including published materials, online resources and conference summaries, as well as the section, Trends & Insights, to briefly report on current trends, research, personal experiences and reflections. The contributions for these sections will come from the faculty and administration at the IEC. All contributors must meet the same high standards expected of any academic journal.
Looking to the future, we know there are many transitions we will face in the growth of the Flatirons Forum, not to mention the many that the IEC will encounter. The world is not a static entity, so change is inevitable, especially with all of the recent technological advances that are transforming the scope of education. However, by embracing change and creating smooth transitions, the IEC will continue to be a voice of integrity and innovation in the TESOL field.