The article seeks to typify e-learning as a transversal object of study particular to the development of the network society. To that end, the article presents the conceptual premises, the institutional framework, the study levels and the working focal points of Scopeo, a new Observatory of Activity, Innovation and Trends in e-Learning. The article also presents the results of the first two research projects on e-learning in four basic study contexts: pre-university, higher education, public administration and private enterprise.