This paper proposes an evaluation tool for distance learning education and reports its application at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The proposal is based on bibliographic research. Later, a field study in a Pedagogy distance learning education course was conducted in order to test and validate the tool. The evaluation tool consists of 67 items and includes the following dimensions: (i) faculty, tutors and managing staff; (ii) didactic and pedagogic organization; and (iii) physical facilities. Overall Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaire was 0.982, indicating high internal consistency. A total of 165 students took part in the study. Given the instrument generality, it can be used to evaluate distance learning education initiatives offered by any Higher Education Institution, either public or private.
Higher Education; Distance Education; Evaluation Tool
