Indicadores de qualidade para avaliação de cursos de EAD em nível de aperfeiçoamento profissional

Abstract

As a direct result of the recent technological advances which demand continuous development of new communication systems, together with the growing demand for education, resulting from the increase in population as well as from the companies need for continuous updates; a new educational methodology, Distance Learning Education (OLE) has been thoroughly discussed and adopted. An underlying discussion remains on the efficient and effective evaluation system based on quality indicators to be observed by the new methodology suppliers. This study consists in presenting the concept and historical evolution of OLE. as well as the characteristics which are peculiar to the institutions that specialize in this new teaching method. Whether the two institutions representative of the Brazilian reality meet the quality indicators largely debated and presented by MEC and The Institute for Higher Education Policy was also an object of this study. Two institutions were studied. One of the institutions has strict educational purposes and has been trying to meet the Ministry of Education requirements to establish its credentials for DLE graduation courses. The other institution operates in the Human Resources area and has as one of its segment Professional Improvement Courses. The method used for developing this study consisted of interviews and observation of a case. Coordinators of two programs and professors of five different courses in Administrative area were interviewed, three from the formal education system and two from the already quoted Human Resources Company. As result, the studies showed that methodology used by both institutions does not meet the quality requirements and appeared for the insufficient quality of almost all categories of indicators. Both institutions have main focus on productivity and immediate economical benefits, being the teaching-learning efficiency and effectiveness considered as of secondary importance.