Development, Implementation, and Assessment of a Distance Module in Endocrine Physiology

• Published in: Advances in physiology education Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 70 - 74
• Main Authors: Rangel, Elaine Maria Leite, Mendes, Isabel Amelia Costa, Carnio, Evelin Capellari, Alves, Leila Maria Marchi, de Godoy, Simone, Crispim, Juliane de Almeida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01-06-2010
• Subjects: Brazil; College students; Computer Uses in Education; Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education, Distance; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate - methods; Educational evaluation; Endocrine system; Endocrinology - education; Female; Foreign Countries; Humans; Instructional Effectiveness; Internet; Learning Processes; Male; Nursing Education; Physiology; Physiology - education; Student Evaluation; Students, Nursing; Studies; Teaching Methods; Undergraduate Students; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 1043-4046; 1522-1229
• DOI: 10.1152/advan.00070.2009

This study aimed to develop, implement, and assess a distance module in endocrine physiology in TelEduc for undergraduate nursing students from a public university in Brazil, with a sample size of 44 students. "Stage 1" consisted of the development of the module, through the process of creating a distance course by means of the Web. "Stage 2" was the planning of the module's practical functioning, and "stage 3" was the planning of student evaluations. In the experts' assessment, the module complied with pedagogical and technical requirements most of the time. In the practical functioning stage, 10 h were dedicated for on-site activities and 10 h for distance activities. Most students (93.2%) were women between 19 and 23 yr of age (75%). The internet was the most used means to remain updated for 23 students (59.0%), and 30 students (68.2%) accessed it from the teaching institution. A personal computer was used by 23 students (56.1%), and most of them (58.1%) learned to use it alone. Access to a forum was more dispersed (variation coefficient: 86.80%) than access to chat (variation coefficient: 65.14%). Average participation was 30 students in forums and 22 students in the chat. Students' final grades in the module averaged 8.5 (SD: 1.2). TelEduc was shown to be efficient in supporting the teaching-learning process of endocrine physiology.