CAUSAS DA EVASÃO EM CURSO DE GRADUAÇÃO A DISTÂNCIA EM ADMINISTRAÇÃO EM UMA UNIVERSIDADE PÚBLICA FEDERAL

Abstract

This article analyzes the causes of course evasion in a pilot graduate course in the distance learning modality, linked to the Open University System of Brazil. Evasion is understood to be the definite abandonment by the student at any stage of the course, by absence, by request or by insufficient academic performance. The course was offered to students of two distinct regions of the country: Federal District (DF) and the northern region. A quantitative research was done from the analysis of documents and survey in order to evaluate evasion by DF students. The documental research included all DF students. Data collection was carried out from the application of an instrument called “Behavior and Attitudes of the Student in Relation to Distance Learning”, a version validated by Almeida (2007) from the questionnaire built and validated by Moura-Walter (2006), considering the factors that influenced the evasion from the distance learning course. The final sample was made up of 39 students from the DF that evaded the course. The documental research indicated 225 (36.23%) students evaded, with the main reason for evasion being the academic performance and it happened essentially in the first semesters of the Course. With the survey it is noticeable that a greater attention is needed to the difficulty of adapting to distance learning and the planning of study social support. Among the results, highlighted is that the abandonment is the main cause of evasion and is linked to low performance in course subjects for various reasons.