Abstract

BARBOSA, Maria de Fátima S. O.  and  REZENDE, Flavia. Tutors' experience in a distance educational program: progress and challenges. Interface (Botucatu) [online]. 2006, vol.10, n.20, pp. 473-486. ISSN 1414-3283.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1414-32832006000200014.

This study was carried out among nursing professionals engaged in distance educational program, and it sought identify the tutor's experience, the obstacles and challenges they dealt with the distance program. The main obstacles mentioned by tutors included: difficulty to assimilate the constructivist pedagogical concepts in their activities (translate the course lessons to practice); difficulty in assimilating new technologies; lack of adequate telecommunications infrastructure in many towns; lack of time to develop course activities. Tutors believe that it was a challenging experience, since there was no model to follow. These results indicate that tutors haven't culturally assimilated distance education and overcoming the distance can be even more difficult for nursing professionals given that in many cases they have double shifts.

Keywords : distance education; professional education; nursing; preceptorship.