Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:
Use of the lnternet as a communications tool enables greater interaction between teachers and students. OBJECTIVE: To present the structure of a website developed to support the teaching of epidemiology in medical training at the Federal University in Rio de janeiro (UFRJ), along with an exploratory analysis of its use.
METHODS:
The structure of the website was based on the results of an experimental stage in a virtual tutoring project. A data base was built with information on the date and time of hits to the website and their originating IP addresses.
RESULTS:
· The website includes the following sections: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), interviews, course syllabi; research projects in epidemiology, links to related sites, and sample questions from admission exams to residency programs. A total of 3,005 hits were logged, with peak firquencies (44.7%) occurring in the weeks prior to course exams. Only 6.6% of the hits originated within the University, and the period of more intense usage was between 6:00PM and midnight (38.7%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The access profile suggests a pattern of usage oriented primarly toward the achievement of favorable results on course exams, geared towards achieving good grades, which can be explained by difficulty in absorving a new learning culture. Better use of the site required the development and availability of applications that estimulate active participation by students in the teaching and learning process.
Key-words:
Epidemiology - Education; Education, Medical; Internet; Studentes, Medical; Public Health Informatics
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