Introducción: Aprender y enseñar en redes de comunicación asíncrona escrita

The paper introduces the monograph and presents the rest of the papers that integrate it. To this end, we undertake a brief analysis of the characteristics associated with electronic networks based on asynchronous written communication, and the prominence that they have acquired over the past years in the development of e-learning proposals, both within the framework of distance and blended education or of face-to-face education. Furthermore, this analysis emphasises those questions to which research in this field has not given a clear and satisfactory response. In order to make progress in explaining some of these questions, about a year ago Cultura & Educación issued an open call for papers with the purpose of publishing a monograph issue on the subject. The papers that were finally selected for publication present research work carried out in diverse settings and educational levels, together with studies dealing with theoretical-methodological reflection and systematised experiences, preferably within the context of higher education. These studies help us understand the current state of research in our context.