Factors involved in the evaluation of the students of a distance course: the experience of a course in the child health area

Abstract

Distance learning, nowadays, has assumed a relevant position in the educational environment, however, there is a lack of studies that allow a better understanding about the factors that influence in the success or failure of the course according to the students’ opinion. Therefore, the objective of the article was to verify the association between the characteristics related to the student and the evaluation of a distance course. It was analyzed the results of the evaluation of a distance course in the child’s health area aimed to the primary care professionals, totalizing 330 students. It was carried out assessments of content of the students relative to the theme before the beginning of the course and after the realization of it, allowing the observance of the knowledge’s evolution. Descriptive analysis involving demographics of the students and the results of the evaluation of the course were carried out, from an analytical instrument drawn for this matter. To verify the association, a bivariate logistic regression was carried out. Of the enrolled students, 72,3% finished the course; 96% considered the course great or good. According with the progression of the apprenticeship, 54% of the students improved their knowledge about the theme after the realization of the course, but 41% maintained the same level of knowledge and 5% has a worsening in the level of knowledge. The results showed that there isn’t an association between the positive evaluation of the course and the following factors: sex, age, level of schooling, profession ad previous participation in other distance courses.