Abstract:

The Virtual Classroom is an essential tool for e-learning. This teaching strategy depends on the accessibility of professors and students to the web, and how they deal with internet resources. The Master of Analytical Techniques of the Clinical Laboratory (TALC), taught at the University Jaume I, has undergone important changes in the last two years: it began offering traditional face-to-face classes, and it has recently turned into an almost distance-taught Master. The adaptation of the professors depended on their origin: the Hospital workers (40%) does not use internet tools, while University lecturers prefer them. Otherwise, the students prefer to get access to the documents (articles and didactic units) by on-line tools. Only a 10% of the students asked to receive the didactic material in paper, because they did not have access to internet. The main conclusion were that the institutions using e-learning must implement several support actions for distance students, like to offer courses about the management of web tools and websites, and provide free and unlimited access to internet. Besides, we found that the library is highly important as information source, in both the University and the professional career

Keywords:

e-learning, Master, Student support system, Virtual Classroom, University.