Aprendizagem e competência em informação mediadas em ambientes de educação a distância online na área da saúde

Abstract

The article presents the research on learning and skills mediated in virtual learning environments in the Health Areas, in order to obtain further analysis on the communication between students and tutors in online distance learning, focusing on the learning and the acquisition of information literacy. An exploratory study is used in the Postgraduate Certificate on Family Health Course (Curso de Especialização em Saúde da Família – CESF) that is offered in a online distance learning module by the Federal University of Ceara (Universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC) and Universidade Aberta do SUS (UNASUS), in the period of 2010-2012. Its major goal is to investigate the relationship between professors/tutors, the Pedagogical Project (Projeto Pedagógico – PP) of CESF, and the students, in the acquisition of knowledge in the Virtual Learning Environment (Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem - AVA). It includes a qualitative analysis of AVA on the access and use of online material, student and tutor guides, chats, forums, and mailing lists maintained between students and tutors. This study also aims to emphasize the role of information professionals acting as managers and facilitators in distance education (Educação a Distância - EAD)). It is concluded that EAD significantly improves the access and interaction of users. Online education proposes challenges that go beyond traditional learning, requiring different ways of understanding the roles of the students and tutors, and information professionals, as well as the pedagogical practices developed.