Abstract
By offering students and teachers innovative tools and learning spaces, new information and communication technologies are rapidly changing how education is provided. Once mainly a question of displaying static hypertext documents, digitization has now extended to the management of content in dynamic systems that allow active participation. With this new stage in the digitization of education, often referred to as platformization, there is a need to reflect on the process's implications. Starting from a description of this new phenomenon and its manifestations—particularly in Italy—this chapter will explore the potential and critical aspects of platform education.
TopMethodological Notes
The purpose of this contribution is to carry out a systematic and critical review of literature and empirical research on the topic of the diffusion of platforms for educational use. Since this is a very large field of study, the authors have limited the area of investigation according to temporal and spatial criteria. Therefore, regarding time, the focus is on the last ten years as they are most relevant in the emergence of educational platforms. Secondly, regarding space only the countries of the European Union have been considered. As such, the consulted main data sources are those only referring them. Indeed, the common directives and guidelines, which can allow a reliable comparison between countries. However, the variability between national school systems and different degrees of investment in teaching through platforms is not negligible.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Digital Platform: The extensible codebase of a software-based system that provides core functionality for/from which derivative applications can be developed and distributed.
Distance Education: A form of education in which the main elements include physical separation of teachers and students during instruction and the use of various technologies to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication.
Educational Platform: An integrated set of interactive online services that provides the teachers, learners, parents information, tools, and resources to support and enhance educational delivery and management.
Digitization: The process of converting information and content into a digital (i.e., computer-readable) format.
Interoperability: Characteristic of a product or system, whose interfaces work with other products or systems, without any restrictions.
MOOC (Massive Online Open Course): A free or paid online training course open to anyone and accessible from anywhere in the world through an Internet connection.