Uses of digital platforms in Higher Education from the perspectives of the educational research

Abstract

The University is currently a complex and a key system for the development of the scientific knowledge and the training of future professional workers. It is happening a global digital inclusion, specifically in the university context. This digital transformation is defined in different types of resources. The use of digital platforms is one of the clearest mainstreaming. The digital innovation at universities points out a challenge to their community. The challenge at the institutions consists of transforming the face-to-face training model into a flexible model, even a mixed model combining face-to-face with online training. In fact, it is necessary to talk about a change of paradigm when we conceptualise the university training towards new approaches in order to search for a sustainable teaching. This contribution aims to show the newest aspects from the educational research about the changes in the Spanish university teaching. From the different reviewed reports, it is added some data about the implementation of virtual or digital platforms into the Spanish university system. This review affirms the generalised use of this type of resource. There are other analysed aspects about the impact of this technological tool to the teaching. Some proposals are added to consider in future lines of research, such us the emerging technologies which start to be used in educational contexts. We talk about learning analytics, makerspaces, active learning or adaptative learning. In short, it is affirmed the technological transformation towards the improvement of a more scalable and sustainable system.

Keywords

• educación superior
• plataformas digitales
• digitalización
• tendecias educativas
• enseñanza virtual
• e-learning