The authors present the results of an experience, transforming a traditional subject of medical education directed to health policies and management using information and communication technologies (e-Learning). Based on constructivist ideas about learning and education, the course pays special attention to the motivation of the student, to collaborative work, and to the search and elaboration of information from official sources. Characteristics of the course are: to motivate the students by proposing to characterize the health system of a city of their own choice; to promote studies and investigations in health using guidebooks directed to analysis and management of the health care system; indicate and show how to use official sites of health information and create a virtual research and learning environment available all the time. After four years of experience and for being well accepted among the students, this course model was expanded to other courses of the health area of FMRP-USP.
Education, Medical; Education, Distance; Social Medicine