Defesas On-line de Monografia de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas do EaD IBRAG/UERJ em Tempos de Pandemia da COVID-19

Abstract

The Biological Sciences Course at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), in the Distance Learning (EaD) modality, currently includes in the curriculum the disciplines of Final Project (old curriculum) and Course Conclusion Work 2 (curriculum new). As a final product of these subjects, students must develop a monograph and present it through a public defense. However, due to the social withdrawal imposed by the pandemic of COVID-19, public defenses in person are not yet recommended, as they generate agglomerations that facilitate the transmission and contagion of the virus. The objective of this study was to discuss the perceptions of students (graduates) and teachers (advisors) regarding online defenses, recording the adaptations made in both disciplines. For this, we used the information obtained during the defense stages and carried out a data survey based on two questionnaires prepared by Google Forms, intended for advisors and students of the distance course in Biological Sciences at UERJ. Twenty public defenses were carried out online, using Information and Communication Technology (ICT), such as web conferences and electronic forms. The most used platform in the defenses was Google Meet and the most of the interviewees approved this change. Therefore, it is suggested that students and their advisors may choose to face to face or online defense after the end of the pandemic. From this new experience, we noticed the need for a standardized and institutional virtual environment for public defense, which allows open access for any audience that wishes to participate.