Web based teaching and learning: a panacea?

Applying the Web to educational purposes is a major field of research nowadays. Discussions in the public arena are largely being led by wild enthusiasm for the far-reaching possibilities offered by this new technology and there appears to be no place for an objective review. Everything seems to be possible, with no limitations in sight. The Web and its applications are seen as the panacea for educational problems. This article is intended to draw attention to some of the limitations and pitfalls inherent in the application of teaching and learning methods based on use of the Web, at the same time taking a step back from the often emotional and poorly informed speculations in the mass media. The article shows actual trends in Web based educational research and tries to plot the location of the front-line as it stands today.