E-learning: the multifaceted and complexity of the concept: A systematic literature review
Published:
Dec 21, 2017
Keywords:
E-learning distance learning web online environments conceptual delimitation
Abstract
The 21st century is characterized by a plethora of changes and transformations in ways of teaching, learning and communicating. E-learning is deemed as an innovative method of teaching and learning that evolves rapidly and is being adopted by an increasingly great number of educational institutions at all levels of education. This paper is an extensive review of the literature, whose basic aim is to reach out to the main definitions of e-learning. Additionally, it aims to present a categorization of the conceptual boundaries of the term and to highlight the inconsistency of the scholars towards the adoption of a single, comprehensive definition. The working methodology was based on a thorough study for the most part of foreign-language literature sources for the period 2005-2017, focusing on the past four years. The literature review concluded that the definitions vary according to the perspective of each scholar, highlighting the technological, pedagogical and communicative dimension of elearning and resulting in a holistic view. The significance of this paper is to be a springboard for future researchers who will attempt to design and organize distance learning-based educational programs, taking into consideration its diverse dimensions.
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References
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