Abstract:

Nowadays, when we think about education, we can realize that the online learning platforms are becoming more popular every day. During many years, the learning process was carried out through “face to face” teaching in the physical environment of classrooms. Nevertheless, the use of new technologies represents today opportunities and risks for university education, advantages and disadvantages that need to be analysed.

In the era of online education, the incorporation of emerging and new technologies represents very important tools that educators should know at university. E-learning uses a lot of new technologies, and while many of them were created to complement the studying process, others were especially designed for it. Internet has been a social revolution, and the Web 2.0 has given rise to all sort of instruments that can be used for educational purposes, like the blogs, wikis, social networks and virtual forums. Moreover, some issues can be developed much better in the e-learning environment than in the “physical world”, like for example the better quality of certain materials provided by professors, or the kind of useful online relationships that could be enhanced between students. Besides, students and professors don’t feel the geographical gap between them.

Hence, we can assure that all the advancements and investments made in educational technology for university teaching are not only improving the learning process, but also giving the opportunity to students who are too far to take classes and to follow the courses and degrees.

Keywords:

e-learning platforms, Higher Education, emerging technologies, social networks.