Um estudo sobre a subjetividade na educação a distância

Abstract

This study focuses on the subjectivity in Distance Education - DE. The guiding question of this research consists of how possibilities of subjective achievement in education mediated by digital technologies are characterized, in scientific papers that discuss the DE. Considering the importance of subjectivity in DE processes, given its prospective potential due to the new demands of the contemporary society, this research aims to characterize the subjectivity in scientific papers which discuss the DE; and identify processes, media, technological and educational resources in digital environment, favouring the emergence of subjectivity and its expression in the context of technological mediation. Distance Education constitutes the means to expand access to formal education on a large scale. However, questions concerning the relationship between people in DE mediated by technology remain. As a result, some issues regarding the management of virtual environment require debate and overcoming, for providing excellence in education mediated by technology. In this regard, subjectivity represents a peculiar element, especially in the Humanities field. This research is exploratory. Data collection includes scientific papers produced on the DE in the last five years - articles, dissertations and theses. The study finds that creating opportunities for subjectivity in DE depends on an interdependent number of factors; finds that otherness in intersubjective relationships, impacts in the subjective production; that the dialogicity involved in interpersonal communications and in teaching resources of DE are relevant to the emergence of subjectivity. It is expected that the inferences made can contribute to advancement in the understanding of subjectivity in the processes of teaching and learning in distance education.