Teaching and Learning Logic in a Virtual Learning Environment ANTONIA HUERTAS, Department of Computer Science, Open University of Catalonia, R. Poblenou, 156, 08018 Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: mhuertass@uoc.edu Abstract Teaching and learning in a virtual learning environment (VLE) poses some difficulties, but also challenges and opportunities to rethink the whole learning process, particularly in abstract subjects like logic or high level mathematics. On the other hand, resources and ways to work, now available in VLEs, might soon extend to all kinds of environments. In this paper, we will present experiences at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), a particular VLE, concerning the whole process of teaching logic and mathematics. In addition, we will discuss some challenges and we will present some innovation projects allowed by the present and near future technologies. Keywords: e-learning, teaching logic, virtual learning environment, on-line high education. 1 Introduction In the Information Society, technologies are having a strong influence on the university environment since they imply the appearance of both new educational necessities and new methodological possibilities. As a result of this influence, new learning models arise in which the role that teachers and students develop differs partly from the one established in the traditional model. Hence, a re-definition of the teaching-learning process is taking place. This re-definition affects both the universities as institutions, and the knowledge areas they cover. A university degree is not enough to provide us with all those concepts that we will need in our extensive and changing professional career. Consequently, the traditional paradigm associated with university education is changing due to new lifelong learning necessities and, on the other hand, to new possibilities that information and communication technologies (ICT) offer to us. By educational technologies, we will refer to resources derived from the application of information and communication technologies to the educational environment, i.e. on-line platforms for collaborative learning, digital libraries, materials in electronic format (audio-visual, interactive, etc.), wireless LANs, Internet and intranet communities, mobile networks, social software, etc. All these technological resources are being used more and more in education, a concept which is usually known as e-learning. We refer to on-line education as the one using internet as the only space for communication through students and teachers, and between students, beeing a subset of the more general distance education concept. On-line education and e-learning models are currently practiced widely all over the world due to the rapid growth of distance and global education and the development of internet and ICT. As Seufert, Lechner and Stanoevska [20] point out, e-learning models can provide high quality educational offerings at the same time that they allow for convenient and flexible learning environments without space, distance or time restrictions. E-learning, which represents a new paradigm Vol. 15 No. 4, ß The Author, 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org doi:10.1093/jigpal/jzm023