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Revista mexicana de investigación educativa
Print version ISSN 1405-6666
RMIE vol.11 n.28 Ciudad de México Jan./Mar. 2006
Thematic research
Finding the “virtual” professor. Results of a Research/Action Project
1Eduardo Flores is associate professor at the graduate school in education (Escuela de Graduados en Education) of Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Campus Chihuahua. Avenida H. Colegio Militar 4700, Colonia Nombre de Dios, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, CP 31105. E-MAIL: eflorek@itsm.mx
This article presents the results of an action research project carried out from 1999 to 2002, to determine if differences existed between the work of a classroom teacher and a teacher who taught a course “on line” (virtual teacher). Changes were made in three online courses offered during seven academic semesters, and the effects on teaching work were recorded. The results suggest that important differences exist between the two types of work, specifically the form of communicating with students (letter writing) and the relation with other teachers and specialists (holographic teaching). These differences are described, along with the implications for future research and teaching mediated by technology.
Key words: educational change; information technologies; teaching work; higher education; action research
Se presentan resultados de un proyecto de investigación-acción realizado entre 1999 y 2002 para determinar si existían diferencias entre el trabajo de un profesor presencial y uno que imparte un curso "en línea" (profesor virtual). Se realizaron cambios en tres cursos en línea, ofrecidos durante siete semestres académicos, y se registraron sus efectos en el trabajo docente. Los resultados sugieren que hay diferencias importantes entre ambos tipos de labor, específicamente la forma de comunicarse con los alumnos (redacción epistolar) y la relación con otros docentes y especialistas (enseñanza holográfica). Se describen estas diferencias y se plantean implicaciones para futuras investigaciones y para la práctica de este tipo de actividad mediada por tecnología.
Palabras clave: cambio educacional; tecnologías de la información; trabajo docente; educación superior; investigación-acción
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Received: November 07, 2005; Accepted: November 29, 2005