Ações informacionais nas equipes de produção de educação a distância: possibilidades e importância de atuação do bibliotecário

Abstract

This goal of this research is to assess the importance of incorporating librarians in teaching material production teams in the field of Distance Education (DE). The results stem from our experience as part of teaching material production teams (production teams) for DE as well as from our training in the graduate program in Information Science at the ECI / UFMG. Specifically, as the actions of librarians take place as having the dimensions of centrality selection, organization, processing and dissemination of information, it has become pertinent to bring to the discussion the importance of interaction and contribution between librarianship, information science and DE in order to capture the relevance of Librarian participation in production teams. Theoretical support for this assessment can be found in the works regarding the history of knowledge production, Library Studies (possible actions or informational techniques) as well as the role of the librarian. In addition, arguments that highlighted the fundamental issues facing Education and, similarly those issues impacting DE. Using this theoretical framework was possible to consolidate the primary work aspects of the Librarian, the fundamental issues in DE, as well as the question of the optimal organizational structure in the field of DE. With the objective of providing qualitative assessment, the study consisted of a literature review of the field of Library Studies, Information Science and DE. This was guided by the historical development of the role of the librarian as a standalone profession as well as in the context of Education and as applied to DE. Through this assessment, we have sought to learn, in objective terms, what mechanisms are involved in the production of didactic materials for DE by production teams, as well as how to properly assimilated Informational matter into these mechanisms. This has allowed us to describe the mechanisms involved in the production of didactic material for DE in steps and stages - elements which support the analysis and the counterpoint of the functions and techniques of the Librarian and other members of the DE production teams as they exist today in their current model. The consolidation of these elements has provided a framework to propose a new model for the production of teaching materials for DE, with the goal of identifying and underlining the importance of the librarian in steps and phases of this model. Our findings, through this assessment, is that librarian plays a key role in the functioning of a production through the application of the Library Study techniques (namely; selection, organization, processing and dissemination.) in all aspects of the teaching material production process. Critical reflection of the study indicated the importance of incorporating librarians in production teams on a permanent and systematic basis. Applying informational principles and techniques from Library Studies to the work of DE production teams has the potential to contribute to better production team collaboration as well as to increase the effectiveness teaching-learning process. Therefore, the research reaffirmed that closer dialogue between Library Studies, Information Science and DE as well as the integration of these professions may contribute to the advancement of education and active citizenship.