Evaluation of remote teaching of Epidemiology at a public university in Southern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The maintenance of teaching activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Higher Education Institutions required pedagogical adaptation and didactic replanning of subjects in classroom courses. This research aimed to evaluate the remote teaching of Epidemiology for courses in the health area at ​​a public institution. A descriptive study was carried out with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Teaching was evaluated by 54 academics regularly enrolled and who follow the disciplines by remote regime, regarding aspects of general structure, amount of resources and activities, flexibility of time and space, feedback, pertinence and adequacy of methodologies, satisfaction and learning. The general structure of the subjects as well as the satisfaction were identified as good or excellent by more than 80% of the respondents. Likewise, the majority considered the methodologies relevant and appropriate for the competences and objectives expected in all the teaching topics evaluated. The complementary analysis of reports showed the use of active methodologies as a potential for learning science and identified challenges in remote education such as time management and study. The set of results showed the potential for teaching and learning and enabled adjustments in the continuity of the disciplines considering the limitations of the modality identified by the participants.