Avaliação institucional nos cursos de graduação a distância: experiências, desafios e perspectivas

Abstract

This paper presents results of a survey on the process of institutional assessment of undergraduate distance courses (DE) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) under direction of the Centre of Support for Distance Education (CAED). The article focuses on five undergraduate distance education courses that integrate the Program of Open University of Brazil (UAB). This study involved bibliographical and documentary survey and field research of qualitative approach. It was considered relevant to carry out studies on the institutional assessment of the DE, underscoring the challenges and possibilities that permeate the evaluative action and their uses in the context of the University, the influences on teaching action and their contributions in the development of educational policies. It is considered the self-assessment in distance education poses as a relevant proposal, that allows understanding the institutional structures from a transparent and proactive participation of the involved sectors. In addition, it helps understanding the dynamics of the teaching-learning process, the teacher-student relationship with the educational proposals of the online course and the challenges inherent in this teaching modality. The results indicated that the evaluation process can promote advances in the educational management field, especially in the distance education scenery, contributing to the emergence of a culture of monitoring and assessment focused on the continuous improvement of the courses.