The Virtual and the Real: E-Learning in Interdisciplinary Education – The Case of Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage preservation is not only about arts, memory, values, and the subtle balance between destruction and restoration. In this modern interand multidisciplinary field, research is a common part of actual conservation projects. Moreover, advanced technologies, materials and investigation techniques are being developed specifically for conservation purposes. This paper presents one of the main outcomes of a European project in heritage conservation education. It outlines the "shuttle" application of e-learning to both online and offline learning in the framework of an educational program. This educational strategy allows the online students to achieve educational goals, and also to create an educational product of independent value. The presentation outlines relevant methodological basis of the structure of the e-learning platform, and provides some tendencies and statistical data on its usage. The contribution of the application of e-learning platform to focusing the students' attention to specific research questions and to the development of their visual analytical ability is addressed. Education for conservation of cultural heritage follows contemporary trends in the education science. At the same time, education in both humanities and arts, and STEM subjects, might benefit from research and development in this interand multidisciplinary field.