Educação a distância: uma proposta de institucionalização para a Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

Abstract

Distance Education or EaD is the generic term used in Brazil to designate modes of training or learning that are different from the classic face-to-face model and whose student-teachercontent mediation is carried out by some technology. The institutionalization process of an EaD system involves the entire movement of reception and ``naturalization`` of the new modality within the sponsoring organization, from the conception of the courses, passing through the training of teachers, structuring of disciplines, monitoring of students, including managing the entire administrative and logistical process, human and technological resources, political and pedagogical aspects. The need to expand EaD courses and the incorporation of the modality within organizations, result in discussions about the elements that constitute these processes. From this context, studies that focus on the institutionalization of DE in Higher Education Institutions gain importance. Thus, this research aims to identify the aspects to be considered in a proposal for the institutionalization of EaD at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). As for the approach, this research presents a qualitative approach. Data collection will occur through document analysis and interviews. To carry out this study, in light of the theory and based on the objectives, Bardin's (2016) content analysis technique will be used, specifically, the enunciation analysis technique for processing the collected information. Among the main results, the role of EaD stands out as a tool to democratize education, EaD allows people to enter higher education institutions who would never be able to study in faceto-face courses. Regarding institutionalization, UFSM needs to support EaD in councils, EaD at UFSM does not have space in places of discussion of strategies and policies. The path taken by UFSM in the institutionalization of EaD suggests the possibility for professors to include their workload at least in the teaching of distance courses, but it still does not take into account the didactic workload of planning pre-semester disciplines. Another step taken by UFSM towards institutionalization concerns the institution's technical staff, which works on fundamental aspects of the institutional and institutionalized development of DE, such as the administrative sector, the multidisciplinary team, the information technology and training team.