Evaluation of higher education distance learning courses

Abstract

Since the 90's, the State has encouraged the opening and expansion of private higher education institutions. The gradual growth of these institutions has contributed to the increase of the distance and presential education in undergraduate courses all over the country. In relation to the distance education mode, the central issue is how to rightly evaluate its quality considering the insufficiency of tradition evaluation methods for presencial courses? This study codifies the informations from a set of categories that constitute an important reference to the regulation process of higher distance education. These categories resulted on an evaluation matrix that includes relevant aspects to coordination, teaching, tutoring, technical staff, students and elements as: teaching materials, programme broadcasting environment, technical support and others. Beyond quality improvement, intervention propositions seeking changes and/or improvement of the distance learning programmes constitutes a social and political measure for democratization of higher education access.