Oferta de disciplinas a distância em Cursos de Pós-graduação Lato-sensu: estudo de caso da UNIPAR – Universidade Paranaense

Abstract

The goal of this work is to analyze the impact of the distance learning disciplines in the graduation courses of UNIPAR – Universidade Paranaense, where they have been offered, through the achievement of a qualitative survey of the involved actors views (teachers and students), information obtained from the official assessments and information about the characteristics of learning environment use. The case study was realized in 2007, after the offer, in distance learning modality, of the Cientific Research Methodology and Higher Education Methodology disciplines at various lato sensu graduation courses offered by the institution. To evaluate the responsiveness was employed questionnaires that were developed based on the SERVQUAL multidimensional scale, supported by data collected from the academic records and the virtual learning environment access registrations used as a support for provision of the subjects in question, seeking to be in line with the MEC quality indicators. There was analyzed the expectations of each group, the assessment of the content and provided services, information on the profile of previous training, personal characteristics and technological and environmental support used by the actors in the activities, in order to clarify any facts that could interfere in the evaluation. Additionaly was performed a comparison between the results obtained in official assessments of the disciplines offered with the results obtained by other classes in the presential modality. Finally, the collection of raised informations and its assessment pointed to acceptable levels of responsiveness in the supply of distance learning disciplines, indicating points that should be revised in order to eliminate inconsistencies in the original project, bringing to light important information about how the actors approached the project.