30 research outputs found
Análise de agrupamento (Clusters Analysis) em duas etapas no ensino à distância: Uma forma de reduzir as lacunas na literatura cientÃfica no ensino à distância
Background: Dropout rates are often very high in distance education. A plethora of research has been conducted to identify the contributing factors; however, the majority of the findings are inconclusive and point to the fact that it is difficult to isolate a single explanatory factor. While frequently examined factors are personal and environmental, there is less research on the relationship between course design and retention or dropout. Method: This paper presents a study involving two-stage cluster analysis of 623 variables from 19 university courses at one open and distance education (ODE) institution. To this end, the current study grouped the courses into five types based on 22 variables. Results: The results indicate that certain sociodemographic variables become a risk factor for course dropout depending on their distribution in the standard courses. Conclusions: This result highlights the importance of instructional design in the ODE retention and dropout equation and helps explain, in part, why previous studies have not reached a consensus on which variables should be considered to explain dropout rates.Contexto: Embora as taxas de abandono escolar sejam frequentemente muito elevadas no ensino à distância, tem sido realizada muita investigação para identificar os fatores que influenciam o abandono escolar ou a persistência neste modo de aprendizagem. As conclusões destes estudos nem sempre convergem e salientam que é difÃcil isolar um único fator explicativo. Embora a maioria dos fatores sejam pessoais e ambientais, há menos investigação sobre a relação entre a conceção e a retenção ou desistência do curso. Método: Este estudo apresenta uma metodologia que envolve uma análise em duas fases de 623 variáveis de 19 cursos universitários de uma instituição de ensino à distância (EAD). Este estudo agrupou os cursos em cinco tipos de cursos com base em 22 variáveis. Resultados: Os resultados indicaram que certas variáveis sociodemográficas se tornam um fator de risco de desistência dos cursos, dependendo da sua distribuição nos cursos padrão. Conclusão: Esta metodologia sublinha a importância da conceção instrucional na equação de retenção e desistência da EAD e ajuda a explicar, em parte, porque é que estudos anteriores não chegaram a um consenso sobre quais as variáveis que devem ser utilizadas para explicar a desistência
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Patterns of Growth and Decline in Lung Function in Persistent Childhood Asthma
BACKGROUND: Tracking longitudinal measurements of growth and decline in lung function in patients with persistent childhood asthma may reveal links between asthma and subsequent chronic airflow obstruction. METHODS: We classified children with asthma according to four characteristic patterns of lung-function growth and decline on the basis of graphs showing forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), representing spirometric measurements performed from childhood into adulthood. Risk factors associated with abnormal patterns were also examined. To define normal values, we used FEV1 values from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who did not have asthma. RESULTS: Of the 684 study participants, 170 (25%) had a normal pattern of lung-function growth without early decline, and 514 (75%) had abnormal patterns: 176 (26%) had reduced growth and an early decline, 160 (23%) had reduced growth only, and 178 (26%) had normal growth and an early decline. Lower baseline values for FEV1, smaller bronchodilator response, airway hyperresponsiveness at baseline, and male sex were associated with reduced growth (P<0.001 for all comparisons). At the last spirometric measurement (mean [±SD] age, 26.0±1.8 years), 73 participants (11%) met Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease spirometric criteria for lung-function impairment that was consistent with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); these participants were more likely to have a reduced pattern of growth than a normal pattern (18% vs. 3%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood impairment of lung function and male sex were the most significant predictors of abnormal longitudinal patterns of lung-function growth and decline. Children with persistent asthma and reduced growth of lung function are at increased risk for fixed airflow obstruction and possibly COPD in early adulthood. (Funded by the Parker B. Francis Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000575.