Aprender sem papel

: criação e implementação de uma disciplina digital

Abstract

In this study it was intended to implement a course during an academic year without the use of paper, using only the computer as a tool to support learning. The chosen course was the 10th Communication and Information Technologies, and to aid the teaching/learning process it was used the Moodle platform (Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment), delivering the supporting audio and video content for the course, as well form exercises and assessment tests. The main objective of the study was to evaluate if it is possible to learn without using paper, using only materials in digital format, as well to evaluate the advantages, disadvantages and constraints of that process of teaching/ learning well as the motivation that students feel with this methodology. To implement the study a qualitative methodology was used, specifically the Action-Research method, as teaching requires thought over the events in class, allowing this way to adapt in order to improve the teaching method. The study was divided into two research cycles and at the end of each, was applied a questionnaire aimed at measuring the opinions of the students about the teaching method. Pertinent information was recorded into a daily observation grid, consisting in the observable student reactions during class. The findings obtained demonstrated not only that students can learn using only digital resources, that is, without using paper, but also that this learning method is successful, since the discipline under study obtained a grade average higher than the other disciplines class, when comparing student results in the 2nd period. The students were also more motivated in classes and said they learn better with the computer resources, giving special emphasis on video support.

Date of Award	2011
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Reis Lagarto (Supervisor)