BioLabVirtual: ferramenta de apoio pedagógico ao ensino de Neurociências

Abstract

This thesis develops an alternative approach for interdisciplinary education, based on the proposition, implementation and evaluation of an online distance-learning system devoted to Neuroscience, focused on Neuroanatomy and on Cellular Neurophysiology. This system makes use of simple and common hardware/software configurations, thus enabling high-speed connections, as well as antivirus resources. The pedagogical materials involve animations, interactive classes, photos of real anatomic parts, and texts which provide explicit connections between anatomy and pathologies. The system development considers difficulties pointed out by local undergraduate students, based on a poll carried out in order to assess Internet use in our university. The thesis proposes a rigorous methodology for the evaluation of such system, including both pedagogical and informatic issues, according to IEEE regulations, by means of formal inquiries, remote monitoring and direct observation. Evaluations were carried out during one year on 136 local undergraduate students, including five different backgrounds (Biology, Biomedicine, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Veterinary). Results point out that, in average, at least 75% of students consider the system very important for efficient learning, as well as the need of a tutor in order to lead such pedagogical approach based on distance-learning.