Teacher challenges in virtual environments: from the distance model to the virtual environment in a postgraduate degree in Communication

Abstract

The Professional Masters in Media Administration
(MAMC) of the State Distance University
(UNED) in Costa Rica, is a postgraduate
option for professionals from different areas
related to Communication. For the MAMC,
the training in the operational use of online
platforms and the understanding of the pedagogical
model of the UNED, are key aspects
for the objectives of academic excellence of
the program. With this base, this study aimed
to systematize the learning and challenges
experienced by the professors of the program
when teaching their courses through the
Moodle platform, in a moment of change from
the distance model. The inputs were collected
at the end of 2016 through a digital questionnaire
to the 17 professors of the program.
The categories of analysis included were:
changes in teaching practices; contributions
of internal training; challenges of students in
the environments; successful mediation and
evaluation activities; and teacher training
needs. As the main results of the research, it was found that the initial training offered by
the UNED to the teachers, teaches well the
pedagogical model of the university, although
some classroom and behavioral activities are
still maintained in the mediation and evaluation
practices. It is important to improve the
induction of students to the virtual platform
and encourage reflection on self-regulation
and time management.