James Witte of Auburn University's College of Education has introduced the first-ever online learning styles research journal.

Witte, an associate professor in the college's Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, serves as the publication's editor.

The Institute for Learning Styles Research Journal, or ILSR-J, is dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed learning styles research.

"The journal is a much-needed venue for publishing," Witte said. "Because of all the variants in learning styles, there was a need for information to be available in a single source. The ILSR-J allows practitioners, faculty and students to consolidate their learning styles research in one location."

According to the institute, the term "learning style" refers to the uniqueness of each learner. Individual differences affecting the teaching and learning process might include the learner's personality, mental processing, confidence, attitude, sensory intake processes or some complex combination of these and other differences.

The ILSR-J is the collaborative effort of faculty from Ball State University, Kentuck y Community and Technical College, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M, University of South Florida, and Auburn. EFLT faculty Elizabeth Burns and Anthony Guarino join Witte and faculty from collaborating institutions as members of the 10-person editorial board.

Witte anticipates the first volume of the journal to appear on the website as soon as currently submitted articles are reviewed. Practitioners, faculty and students in all areas of learning styles are encouraged to submit their work for review.

"Our main goal as a single-source journal for learning styles research is that it is available for beginning, as well as experienced, researchers," Witte said. "This is a tool that can be used by everyone."

The electronic journal is accessible from a link on the institute's home page at www.learningstyles.org.