Survey of teaching competencies necessary for instructors of e learning

Abstract

The pedagogical competencies of instructors are related to methods, attitudes and procedures necessary for the teaching‑learning process. Motivating learning, using a clear and friendly language, accepting the heterogeneity of knowledge, stimulating critical capacity, evaluating the development and providing feedbacks of assignments are skills required in e-learning. Perceptions about pedagogical competencies of ten instructors of undergraduate or graduation degrees in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil) institutions were studied using a questionnaire. Subjects identified pedagogical competencies as vital to instruction. Its improvement occurred with professional development, especially via short-term online courses. However, few could maintain a continuous degree. The most important pedagogical competence would be the ability to develop the critical skills of the students. However, instructors pointed out a better performance in motivating learning, getting student empathy, using clear and friendly language and providing feedback on assignments. Interestingly, the most important competencies have been identified as more difficult to develop. Subjects indicated assessing learning correctly as the most difficult competence to apply. One reason would be the need to employ objective correction criteria while considering the subjectivity of the student, in other words, their individual development.

Keywords

• educação a distância
• competências pedagógicas
• tutor
• mediador