Condicionantes que potencializam a permanência no curso de Especialização em Educação Ambiental EAD/UFSM na visão de alunos regulares

Abstract

The objective of this work is to evaluate factors that may be decisive for the retention of students in the postgraduate course of the Specialization in Environmental Education in the distance learning modality. These factors are related to content, pedagogical practices, virtual learning environment, teachers and tutors, in addition to support from the Open University of Brazil (UAB) hub in the municipality where they are enrolled. Reducing dropout rates in distance learning courses is a major challenge for institutions that offer courses in this modality. For this reason, a questionnaire was prepared and subsequently applied to 75 academics from the 2023/1 class, in 06 (six) face-to-face support centers with with the aim of understanding factors that may lead to these students dropping out. The data were analyzed in a quantitative-qualitative way, in this way it was possible to understand the positive and negative points of the practices adopted by teachers, in addition to the demands and difficulties faced by students. Therefore, after analyzing the academics' responses, the study proved to be an important tool to assist in the planning processes of pedagogical practices and to reduce dropout rates, and should be analyzed by the teachers who work on the course throughout the process. training of these students, in addition, of course, to other subjects who are part of this training, such as tutors and center coordinators. It also points out the challenges, difficulties and needs at various points that can and should be rethought by the educational agents involved.