The Psychology of E-Learning: A Field of Study

Abstract

In this article, we present our views of the psychology of E-learning as a field of study that is important, interdisciplinary, emerging, and promising. We first define E-learning as the third learning system in the history of human learning, specify two major E-learning practices in education and corporations, and indicate the importance of psychological studies of E-learning. We then point out the interdisciplinary nature of the psychology of learning and summarize the existing literature of the psychology of E-learning in cognitive, social, developmental, and school and counseling psychology. We comment on major accomplishments and limitations of the special issue, and conclude with a brief discussion of possible future research directions.