The promises and illusions of virtual academic education

1. On the functional polyvalence and generalized adaptiveness of digital media .............................................. 1 2. On the intrinsic conservatism and polymorphism of modern academic institutions ....................................... 3 3. The widening spectrum of alternative teaching and learning tools as a source of intra-academic heterogeneity, decentralization and informalization ....................................................................................... 6 4. Upward and downward digitalization: two contradictory uses of online media for academic learning ........... 8 5. On the potentialities, consequences and limits of aspatial and asynchronous academic education............ 26 6. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 39 References ............................................................................................................................................................ 41