Distance education: difficulties of the tutors of the first course of biological sciences of the university of state of Maringá – PR

• Main Authors: Thaise Francielle de Sousa Roth, Dulcineia Ester Pagani Gianotto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociación Iberoamericana de Educación Superior y a Distancia (AIESAD) 2015-03-01
• Series: RIED: Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia
• Subjects: Educação a distância, dificuldades, tutores, ciências biológicas.
• Online Access: http://revistas.uned.es/index.php/ried/article/view/13422
• ISSN: 1138-2783; 1390-3306

Distance learning is a teaching modality that uses information and communication technology for sharing information. This arrangement allows the interaction between participants in order to obtain specific training. The State University of Maringá started its activities in this educational modality in 2005. In 2010, the Degree in Biological Sciences was started. In that year, face-to-face and distance learning tutors began their professional activities in the course, with the challenge of using the tools and the dynamics of the online platform to assist the students in their training. This research examined the reports of the tutors about their experiences with the first class of the degree course. Questionnaires were answered by active tutors and their analysis was based on a content analysis tool. This research sought to highlight the main difficulties encountered in the work by a tutor to search and organize plans of joint actions to assist them with the teaching and learning of this course. The main difficulties are related to limitations of how to carry out this work, for example, related to materials that can be posted and recommended activities, since these are professionals trained in such competences.