Educação a Distância: estudo da gestão de um polo de apoio presencial

Abstract

The present dissertation was developed in the Masters in Education of Unoeste, in the Area of concentration: Educational Institution and Educator Training. Research Line: Training and Pedagogical Practice of the Teaching Profession. The research investigated the management of a face-to-face support center of a private distance learning institution in the interior of the state of São Paulo. A qualitative approach was adopted, developing as a case study. Participants included: a polo manager, a polo coordinator, three tutors and fifteen students from the final stages of the courses, five of each of the courses: Pedagogy, Administration and Logistics. The data collection was performed through semi-structured interviews. The data were organized and interpreted using the technique of content analysis. The results indicated that the adopted management is characterized as centralizing, in which decisions are taken without the dialogue with the poles, this implies in damages to the use of available technological resources and pedagogical support and makes difficult the work of the tutor face-to-face. It is hoped that the results of this research may contribute to further research on Distance Education management, mainly in the context of the face-to-face support poles.