A (Uni)versidade no território rural: as TIC e o ensino a distância

Abstract

The objective is to understand the access, use and adaptation of Information Technology and Communication (ICT) for rural students entering higher education in the distance, through the agreement of the Open University of Brazil (UAB), in Rio Grande do Sul. To this end, a survey between the months of May and June 2014, a qualitative and quantitative basis by e-mail (google docs form) to 25 rural students who graduated or are enrolled in higher education linked to eight poles was performed to-face support. The results indicate that rural students in tertiary distance education have varying ages, and take courses, mostly, facing the rural area. The forum highlighted the motivational and educational resource in the virtual environment more attractive to the process of teaching and learning. Regarding the distance course, the evaluation was positive in terms of availability and quality. Therefore, the findings indicate that ICT are tools of social mediation, for connecting rural stakeholders and the university and appear as a link between education and rural dwellers.