Traditional Education and E-Learning : Continuity or Discontinuity

Abstract

The concept of education has received great attention from researchers in various scientific disciplines, such as the social sciences, which have focused on studying its different aspects. Cognitive and sociological theories have addressed its various educational and pedagogical dimensions. This concept has witnessed significant development, especially after the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies, which have resulted in the emergence of new and diverse information services, most of which aim to promote different levels of education, including university education. After universities relied on traditional education, which determines the physical presence of both teacher and learner, e-learning emerged as a new method of education that does not recognize the spatial presence of either the teacher or the learner. It relies on information technology open to multiple technical media, contributing to its widespread adoption. In most cases, e-learning is adopted alongside traditional education, in what is called blended learning.