A step-by-step guide on how NOT to get published in a high-impact educational technology journal

Many elements come together to make for a good, publishable manuscript in a high-impact educational technology journal. There are also some fatal errors and omissions that will doom a paper to be immediately declined. In this editorial, we focus on the latter. Checking the aims and scope of a journal is a simple step to ensure that the publication of an article is not delayed and time is not wasted. Unfortunately, it seems this step is neglected by many aspiring authors. Beyond a misalignment with the aims and scope of the journal, we will discuss some of the other main reasons why manuscripts have recently been declined by AJET. We hope that this editorial will assist authors to ensure that they do not make the same mistakes.