MODEL FOR PRODUCTION OF TEACHING MATERIAL: THE USE OF BPMN NOTATION IN DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

Abstract

The article at hand aims to analyze the Process of Production of Didactic Courseware (PPDC) in the distance learning program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). We present its main steps and define the role of the main agents involved through Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) in order to provide suggestions for improvement. In the methodology, we used a descriptive case study and a qualitative approach to primary and secondary data. The origin of the primary data was direct observation and unstructured interviews, through which it was possible to communicate with those involved in the production of material on the subject under study. These research subjects were selected for accessibility, and comprised a non-probabilistic sample composed of 5 members of the graphics team and 5 teachers of the course. The secondary data were taken from the guides and manuals available in the course. For analysis of the case, we examined the distance learning course in Administration offered by UFSC through the Open University of Brazil (UAB). In the data analysis, the planning and preparation of teaching materials were examined. These processes have their beginnings in course planning and in the subjects offered, so it was necessary to verify some previous indicators and to trace directions to the managers, such as the goals of each discipline, targets, technologies and format of the Virtual Environment for Teaching and Learning (AVEA). The knowledge and attitudes with which the program aims to imbue the students are two other important factors at this stage of the course. These indicators are the basis for the modeling of PPDC by BPMN notation, and they describe the main functions of the main agents involved in this process: teachers, instructional designers, charts, reviewers of Portuguese and the editorial board. The final considerations were observed constantly in the planning stage of PPDC in order to understand and detail the main flows of information included in the process. Modeling by the BPMN was used to ensure a better graphical representation of the process, thus creating a model accessible to all professionals involved in developing, implementing and controlling the production of teaching materials for distance learning.