New Perspectives in Science Education

The complexity of today’s global educational system is subject to an evolving process with the final objective to respond to current and future challenges of cultural, political, social and technology changes as well as the emerging demand coming from developing countries and the continuous evolution of the social behaviors in the way individuals collaborate and interact each other. The Distance Learning offers today a real option to the traditional models. Also, it acquires new meanings and higher potential if and when developed over Social Media technologies and Social Network principles, allowing to develop effective and efficient distance learning models which are applicable to diverse educational contexts. In order to develop a modern and agile learning environment, the institution should look at the wide spectrum of Social Media technology options. Starting from their actual information system, the institutions will need to select and add new technology elements and components to develop new capabilities and functionalities as a response to students and docents needs. Incorporating such new technologies within the current learning ecosystem will require a clear understanding of main industry trends in the ICT and, at the same time, a progressive involvement of students and docents in the development of the new learning environment [1].

This paper addresses the continuous and rapid evolution and expansion of the boundaries and interdependences of the global education system with the objective to provide useful indications and contribution to the understanding and evaluation of the current and future context as well as perspectives of the education system and how the actual technologies are an essential enabling factor to future state. These challenges can be taken on by developing innovative and dynamic learning models by using appropriate Social Media enabling technologies [2].

[1] Gigante G., 2013. Book: e-Learning e Social Network: il modello, le tecnologie e gli ambiti di applicazione. Tangram Edizioni Scientifiche Trento, Italy

[2] Lowendahl J. M., 2012. Paper: A Quick Look at Cloud Computing in Higher Education, 2012. Gartner