Abstract:

This article demonstrates main challenges of distance learning modality, highlighted/experienced by students due to the pandemic, through Colibri/Zoom platform, at Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies in Lisbon (Portugal). The questionnaire was applied from February to June 2021 to 320 students. This was composed of two groups of closed-answer questions and two open-answer questions. Most students pointed following challenges: Information circulation in real time with access to information, in any physical space and any time, as long as student and teacher have a computer connected to network, which allows for different learning timings that they are not possible in face-to-face teaching structure; As for interactivity, it is about the change from a teaching where the student's role in search information is limited and in which he tries to adapt the existing information to a teaching in which information adapts to the student; The personalized education system, through which the student develops their knowledge according to their needs; The possibility of using asynchronous communication (allows greater reflection, knowledge maturation, opinions and others) and synchronous communication (like classes on Colibri platform, it creates a sense of community and a spirit of loyalty between students because questions, doubts, participations are “public” allowing a global follow-up of interactions, used in different ways. The process to be carried out from face-to-face context to virtual context implies huge differences and transition from one medium to another was a process with several challenges, because neither students nor teachers were prepared. Thus, in new context of online teaching-learning, teacher must encourage student participation, suggest group debates, virtual meeting activities, not exercise the role of pedagogical authoritarian so as not interfere in teaching-learning process, always be objective in contributions, develop questions and activities that lead students to new experiences, ask students questions by giving deadlines for them to respond, recognize students who do not participate in debates but are virtually present, encourage students to build a virtual community, praise and encouraging participation in virtual classes and forums.

Keywords:

Teaching-learning, pandemic, covid, colibri/zoom.