Considerando la educacion a distancia (EAD) como la originaria de las distintas modalidades educativas que permiten el acceso a la educacion en forma asincronica, se aborda este fenomeno teniendo en cuenta elementos clave que permiten entender la educacion virtual (EV) o el e-learning en la actualidad. Para lograrlo, se analiza la importancia que tiene el proyecto didactico en este tipo de educacion; posteriormente se aborda el desarrollo de la educacion a distancia y la educacion virtual en el contexto mundial, regional, nacional y local; y se finaliza con el trabajo de campo, el cual parte de un diseno metodologico que permite formular una serie de consideraciones finales en las que se destaca el futuro que debe vislumbrarse desde la academia sobre el papel que cumplen, y la aceptacion que tienen las tecnologias de la informacion y la comunicacion (TIC) en el desarrollo de la educacion virtual, especificamente en el caso de la Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecologia de la Universidad de Antioquia (EIB). Palabras clave: Educacion virtual, E-learning, Educacion a distancia, Modelos pedagogicos, Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecologia. Abstract While considering distance education (EAD) as one of several means of access to education in asynchronous mode, this study approaches this issue by considering the key elements in understanding virtual education (EV) or e-learning, in the present time. In order to achieve this goal, the writers analyze the importance that this project has in this type of information. Next, they consider the development of distance education and virtual education in a world, regional national, and local context. Finally, they consider field work, which begins with a methodological design that makes it possible to formulate a series of final considerations in which a future can be seen, from the academic point of view, concerning the role that information and communication technologies (TIC) plays, and the acceptance that it has, in the development of virtual education, specifically in the case of the Inter-American School of Library Science of the University of Antioquia (EIB). Keywords: Virtual education, E-learning, Distance education, Pedagogical models, Inter- American School of Library Science.