We took over as co-editors of the Association for Learning Technology Journal (ALT-J) in September 2007, succeeding the previous team of editors Grainne Conole, Martin Oliver and Jane Seale. We would like to take this opportunity to give Grainne, Martin and Jane a vote of thanks on behalf of readers, authors, reviewers and the Editorial Board. We have benefited from their generous support and advice during the handover period, and have a great opportunity to build on the many strengths they introduced at ALT-J.
 
Our first issue to go to press is 16(3), a Special Issue titled Learning and Teaching in Immersive Virtual Worlds (IVWs), edited by Maggi Savin Baden and Robert Ward. We have 9 papers on subjects ranging from machinima, through the role of background music in IVWs, to uncanny spaces in higher education.
 
The call for papers for the next Special Issue 17(3), Mobile and Contextual Learning, edited by Agnes Kukulska-Hulme and Mike Sharples is now available at www.alt.ac.uk/documents.html, with abstracts due by 1 December, 2008 and full papers by 15 January, 2009. We look forward to receiving your submissions.