Sweden’s healthcare sector faces a significant challenge due to the increasing life expectancy and aging population. This is exacerbated by the anticipated decrease in the working age population, creating extended competency supply challenges for municipalities and regions. Simultaneously, there is a demand for digitalization and the use of digital tools, which entails new challenges for municipalities and regions to manage. This study aims to investigate the current education strategy of a medium sized municipality within the health care sector, referred to as Kommun X, to identify how the education process can be structured and how digital tools can contribute to a more qualitative process. The data collection method utilized in this study is semi-structured interviews, which is in line with a qualitative approach. Moreover, the study incorporates an expert interview that has been analysed alongside the other data sources. In our findings, we propose an approach that combines digital tools with physical meetings. To enhance the structure and accessibility of the education we recommend implementation of a learning management system (LMS) which is compatible with mobile devices. Furthermore, we suggest establishing designated responsibility and support materials for the education. A concluding suggestion is that Kommun X consider the use of VR technology for educational purposes to integrate more interactive experiences for employees.

Canvas is a LMS used by many colleges, universities, and K-12 schools. The primary purpose of Canvas is for the instructors to organize courses, create assignments, and enter students’ grades. Canvas LMS is a web application. The response time performance of the Canvas is essential for its users. Both instructors and students claim that they experience slow response times from this system. Given the vast numbers of users, the effect of delayed responses is multiplied by a very large number; hence, improving the performance of such a system has a large economic and social impact. Moreover, many other applications utilize a set of services that communicate to realize the overall web service; hence, the results could also positively impact other services. This thesis focuses on the Canvas when running in a Docker container environment and proposes solutions to tune the system to optimize the performance of Canvas. This thesis uses experiments on the following aspects of the Canvas: Canvas RESTful API, Canvas GUI, the underlying system of the Docker containers, Canvas webserver, VM configurations, etc. This thesis provides tuning and optimization suggestions that could benefit Canvas developers and Canvas administrators. / Canvas är en Lärplattform (eng. Learning Management System(LMS)) används av många högskolor, universitet och K-12-skolor. Canvas huvudsakliga syfte är att instruktörerna ska organisera kurser, skapa uppdrag och ange elevernas betyg. Canvas LMS är en webbapplikation. Svarstider prestanda för Canvas är avgörande för användarna. Både instruktörer och studenter hävdar att de upplever långsamma svarstider från detta system. Med tanke på det stora antalet användare multipliceras effekten av fördröjda svar med ett mycket stort antal; följaktligen har förbättring av prestanda för ett sådant system en stor ekonomisk och social inverkan. Dessutom använder många andra applikationer en uppsättning tjänster som kommunicerar för att förverkliga den övergripande webbtjänsten; därför kan resultaten också påverka andra tjänster positivt. Denna avhandling fokuserar på Canvas när den körs i en Docker-behållare miljö och föreslår lösningar för att justera systemet för att optimera prestandan för Canvas. Denna avhandling använder experiment på följande aspekter av Canvas: Canvas RESTful applikationsprogrammeringsgränssnitt (API), Canvas grafiskt användargränssnitt (GUI), det underliggande systemet för Docker-behållare, Canvas-webbserver, virtuella maskin (VM)-konfigurationer, osv. Denna avhandling ger prestanda justering och optimering förslagsom kan gynna Canvas-utvecklare och Canvas-administratörer.

This study aims at discussing how students’ informational privacy in the learning management system (LMS) Canvas is perceived by staff at higher education institutions (HEIs), as well as identifying challenges arising from dataveillance and from perceptions of informational privacy themselves. The study of perceptions is based on a range of interviews at five HEIs in Sweden. While the LMS Canvas includes dataveillance of students especially through learning analytics (LA) functions that are novel and opaque at Swedish HEIs, consideration of respective flows of personal information and resulting challenges to students’ informational privacy is relatively scarce. Even though usage of dataveillance capabilities appears limited at HEIs, a discrepancy between processed data and respective perceptions among staff, in addition to rare institutional discussions, make Canvas a problematic case for HEIs. Canvas and its introduction were generally perceived as a success, but dataveillance is likely unknown to many students and thus potentially misaligned with their interests for informational privacy.

Актуальность темы заключается в том, что сети сервисных центров сталкиваются с проблемой нехватки квалифицированных сотрудников и не стандартизированного процесса обучения. Особенно это затрагивает сотрудников, занимающихся ремонтом и обслуживанием цифровой техники. Обучение младших мастеров осуществляется старшими мастерами, которые имеют различные подходы и методы обучения. Однако, из-за их непосредственной занятости ремонтом, обучение становится неполным и прерывистым. Кроме того, отсутствует система отслеживания прогресса и текущих навыков сотрудников. Управляющим филиалов необходимо иметь полное представление о кадровых ресурсах, чтобы эффективно планировать работы и задействовать сотрудников. Объектом исследования является управление персоналом в сервисных центрах. Предметом исследования является изучение системы управления обучением и учета профессиональных навыков сотрудников в сервисных центрах. Новизна данной работы заключается в нахождении алгоритмического и программного решения задачи обучения персонала, позволяющего сократить трудозатраты. / The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that service center networks are faced with the problem of a lack of qualified employees and a non-standardized learning process. This especially affects employees involved in the repair and maintenance of digital equipment. The training of junior masters is carried out by senior masters who have different approaches and teaching methods. However, due to their direct employment with repairs, training becomes incomplete and intermittent. In addition, there is no system for tracking the progress and current skills of employees. Branch managers need to have a complete understanding of human resources in order to effectively plan work and engage employees. The object of research is personnel management in service centers. The subject of the research is the study of the training management system and accounting for the professional skills of employees in service centers. The novelty of this work lies in finding an algorithmic and software solution to the problem of personnel training, which makes it possible to reduce labor costs.

Thesis (MPhil (Modern Foreign Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The decline in the Grade 12 pass rate in South Africa has been a cause for widespread concern. While this decline in is the result of the interplay of many factors, one of them is undoubtedly that teachers and pupils often find themselves in situations where they do not have access to adequate resources. This study is a formative evaluation of material that was created with the Moodle learning management system, in order to provide teachers and learners with resources that can be made readily available online. These resources are accessible from computers and cellular phones with internet connectivity. The resources not only provide content, but also learning activities that can be used either by individual learners, or with a teacher in a classroom environment. In the absence of a teacher, the activities could also provide meaningful feedback to aid learners in the learning process. Two courses were created in the Moodle Learning Management System that cover work prescribed for Grade 12, English First Additional Language for the period 2009 to 2010; namely the prescribed short stories and the play, Nothing But The Truth by John Kani. A number of activities are evaluated according to usage and feedback that they provide. The outcome of the study is that it is possible to provide learners with online learning materials which will enable them to prepare thoroughly for the final examinations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die daling in die Graad 12 slaagsyfer veroorsaak kommer in baie geledere. Alhoewel hierdie daling die gevolg kan wees van baie faktore, is een van die redes dat onderwysers en leerlinge hulle dikwels in 'n situasie bevind waar hulle nie die nodige toegang tot die nodige leermateriaal het nie. Hierdie studie doen ‘n formatiewe evaluering van die leerprogram wat ontwerp is met behulp van Moodle, 'n leerbeheerstelsel, om onderwysers en leerders van die nodige leermateriaal te voorsien. Die leermateriaal is toeganklik vanaf beide ‘n rekenaar en 'n selfoon met internet toegang. Hierdie leermateriaal verskaf nie net statiese inligting nie, maar bevat leeraktiwiteite wat deur leerders op hulle eie gebruik kan word, of saam met 'n onderwyser in 'n klaskamer. In die afwesigheid van 'n onderwyser kan die leermateriaal ook die nodige terugvoering verskaf, sodat dit leerders kan help in die leerproses. Twee kursusse is ontwerp as deel van 'n Moodle stelsel wat van die voorgeskrewe werk dek vir Graad 12, Engels Eerste Addisionele Taal vir die tydperk 2009 tot 2010; naamlik die voorgeskrewe kortverhale en die verhoogstuk, Nothing But The Truth, deur John Kani. 'n Aantal aktwiteite word evalueer ten opsigte van die gebruik en ook die terugvoering wat dit voorsien. Die resultate van die studie is dat dit wel moontlik is om voldoende studie materiaal aan Graad 12’s besikbaar te stel wat hulle kan gebruik om voor te berei vir die eindeksamen.

Avec la place prépondérante qu’occupent les technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) en éducation, nous avons cherché lors de cette étude à comprendre le processus d’adoption d’une innovation pédagogique avec les TIC. Plus précisément, c’est avec un environnement numérique d’apprentissage (ENA) que le contexte d’innovation a été mis en place. Pour ce faire, un ENA a été déployé pour l’ensemble des enseignants et des élèves du secondaire d’une commission scolaire de la région de Montréal. Au préalable, les enseignants n’avaient pas accès à un ENA et la plupart n’avaient jamais été en contact, autant comme enseignant ou en tant qu’apprenant, à un ENA. Nous pouvions par conséquent considérer la situation comme étant innovante. C’est donc dans ce contexte d’innovation pédagogique avec les TIC que nous avons réalisé cette recherche. L’objectif général de la recherche avait pour but de mettre en place un prototype d’ENA afin d’identifier les facteurs qui favorisent l’adoption de l’innovation par les enseignants du secondaire puis de voir quelles sont les perceptions de l’ENA lors d’un design de fonctionnalités pédagogiques et dans quelle mesure les enseignants ont perçu les affordances. Également, cela a permis d’élaborer des principes de design pour que les enseignants puissent mieux exploiter les TIC avec l’ENA. Pour réaliser cette recherche, nous avons utilisé l’approche méthodologique Design-Based Research. Ainsi, nous avons effectué trois itérations qui comprennent chacune un cycle caractérisé par le design d’un prototype, son implémentation, sa mise à l’essai dans un contexte réel et son évaluation. L’objectif de la première itération était d’abord exploratoire. Celle-ci visait l’implémentation et l’expérimentation de l’ENA en prévision d’une diffusion large. Une entrevue de groupe et un journal de bord ont permis de documenter cette itération. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que l’ENA était pertinent pour les enseignants. Cependant, nous avons relevé qu’un ensemble d’adaptations et de modifications avaient été nécessaires avant de procéder à la diffusion large de la plateforme. Ces interventions visaient à s’assurer que l’ENA réponde le mieux possible au contexte et à la réalité des enseignants. Lors de la deuxième itération, nous avions pour objectif d’identifier avec le Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) de Davis, Bagozzi et Warshaw (1989) les facteurs qui favorisent l’adoption de l’ENA. Les résultats de cette phase nous ont montré que, d’une part, nos données s’ajustent bien avec le modèle TAM et que, d’autre part, la dimension de l’utilité est un bon prédicteur pour l’adoption de l’ENA. Pour la troisième itération, nous avons réalisé avec neuf enseignants, répartis sur deux sites, un design participatif de fonctionnalités pédagogiques. Cette démarche avait pour objectif d’analyser les perceptions des enseignants relatives à l’ENA. Cette itération a été évaluée par des entrevues semi-dirigées. L’analyse des résultats nous a permis de confirmer l’utilité de l’ENA, notamment en matière de réinvestissement des activités réalisées. Également, les enseignants ont mentionné l’importance de la formation et de l’accompagnement dans la démarche de design de fonctionnalités pédagogiques. Cette itération visait aussi à voir dans quelle mesure les affordances des TIC dans l’ENA ont été perçues. Cette démarche d’intervention consistait également à placer les enseignants en situation de perception d’affordances. Cela ne nous a cependant pas permis d’articuler une relation directe entre le design de fonctionnalités pédagogiques et sa mise en œuvre en contexte réel avec la perception explicite des affordances de l’ENA. / With the ever increasing place that information and communication technologies (ICT) occupy in education, we sought to understand the process by which teaching innovations, by means of ICT, were adopted in classrooms. More specifically, the context of innovation in this study was set up through a Leaning Management System (LMS). In order to do this, a LMS was set up for the secondary school teachers and students of a greater Montreal area school board. As a premise, teachers did not have access to LMS and the majority had never been in contact with LMS as teachers or learners. We could therefore consider this learning situation as being innovative in and of itself. Thus, it is in this innovative teaching context, using ICT, that this research was carried out. The general objective of our research was to set up a LMS prototype in order to identify the factors which support the adoption of teaching innovations by secondary school teachers. Then, we wanted to see to what extent the teacher’s perceptions of the LMS gave them the impression that the pedagogical design functions used were useful and how the affordances was perceived. This made it possible for us to determine principles of design that would allow teachers to better exploit ICT in a LMS. To carry out this research, we used the Design-Based Research methodological approach. Thus, we carried out three iterations each of which involved one cycle characterized by the design of a prototype, its implementation in an authentic setting and its evaluation. The objective of the first iteration was mainly exploratory. It aimed at the implementation and the experimentation of the LMS in preparation for a broader distribution. A group interview and logbook entries made it possible to document this iteration. The results obtained tend to show that the LMS was relevant for teachers. However, we also observed that a set of adaptations and modifications were necessary before carrying out the broader distribution of the platform. By making these interventions, we wanted to make sure that the LMS catered to the teaching context and the teachers’ reality as best as possible. In the second iteration, we used Davis, Bagozzi and Warshaw (1989) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to identify the factors which support the adoption of a LMS. The results of this phase indicate that, on the one hand, our data conforms well with the TAM model and that, on the other hand, the perceived usefulness dimension appears to be a good predictor of the adoption of the LMS by teachers. For the third iteration, we implemented a participatory design of teaching features process with nine teachers divided into two sites. This approach was aimed at analyzing teacher perceptions concerning the LMS. This iteration was evaluated using semi-directed interviews. Result analysis enabled us to confirm the utility of the LMS, more specifically with respect to the level of reinvestment of the activities carried out. In addition, teachers mentioned the importance of training and coaching in the design of teaching features process. In this iteration, we also wanted to see the extent to which the affordances of ICT was perceived in the LMS. This intervention process involved placing teachers in a situation of perception of affordances as well. This, however, did not allow us to articulate a direct relationship between designing teaching features and their implementation in authentic contexts with the explicit perceptions of affordances of the LMS.

A presente tese investiga o potencial de inserção das Redes de Informação Científica nos processos de ensino-aprendizagem em Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) como apoio para o ensino exclusivamente a distância quanto como apoio ao ensino presencial. Como suporte a investigação, procurou-se construir panorama teórico fundamentado em estudos sobre a contribuição das TICs para o desenvolvimento e aperfeiçoamento de propostas e projetos, os desafios para usos das TICs na integração dos ambientes presenciais e virtuais de aprendizagem, no ensino em redes colaborativas de informação e no favorecimento à aprendizagem cooperativa, centrada no indivíduo e autônoma. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter descritivo e aplicado. O campo de pesquisa é a Rede BVS Odontologia Brasil, composta por 17 instituições de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Para investigar a infraestrutura e capacitação dos profissionais bibliotecários para inserção neste novo ambiente foram entrevistados diretores das bibliotecas integrantes da Rede utilizando a ferramenta Adobe Connect no período de dezembro/2014 a março/2015. A pesquisa revelou que, apesar do grande potencial para apoio à atividades de Ensino-Aprendizagem virtual no âmbito da área de conhecimento, a inserção da Rede BVS Odontologia nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem ainda se mostra pouco efetiva. Verificou-se que falta uma cultura de inovação, bem como um planejamento estratégico, tanto por parte das instituições como das bibliotecas, para a formulação e implementação de política de inovação relacionada a cinco aspectos fundamentais: a) a concepção de redes como um processo de ensino-aprendizagem pautado na construção e não na reprodução do conhecimento, aliada a um entendimento do potencial comunicacional dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem; b) o aproveitamento do potencial de inserção das redes de informação científica e a apropriação de seus aspectos fundamentais, tendo os ambientes virtuais como espaços de colaboração e autoria; c) uma visão do profissional bibliotecário que leve à construção de propostas formativas, atentando para a contribuição da perspectiva da experiência on-line como mais um canal de produção e disseminação da informação; d) a integração dos sujeitos que atuam em ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem; e) definição de políticas institucionais para ensino-aprendizagem em ambientes virtuais que sejam concebidas de forma colaborativa, considerando a necessidade de infra-estrutura e pessoal capacitado para atuação nesses novos ambientes. / The present thesis investigates the potential for insertion of Scientific Information Networks in the teaching-learning processes in the Learning Management System (LMS) as support for teaching exclusively by distance as to support for presential teaching. As support for investigation, we tried to build theoretical scenario based on studies on the contribution of ICT, for the development and improvement of proposals and projects, challenges to ICT use, in the integration of presential and virtual learning environments, in teaching in collaborative networks of information and in fostering cooperative learning, centered on the individual and autonomous. This is an exploratory research of descriptive and applied character. The research field is the VHL Network Dentistry Brazil, made up of 17 educational, research and extension institutions. To investigate the infrastructure and capacity of librarians for insertion in this new environment they were interviewed directors of Network members libraries using the Adobe Connect tool from December / 2014 to March / 2015. The research has revealed that despite the great potential for support of virtual Teaching-Learning activities in the framework of area of knowledge, the insertion of the VHL Dentistry Network in virtual learning environments also shown less effective. It was found that lack a culture of innovation as well as a strategic plan, both by institutions such as libraries, to the formulation and implementation of innovation policy related to five fundamental aspects: a) network conception as a process of teaching-learning process lined in construction and not in the reproduction of knowledge allied to an understanding of the communication potential of virtual learning environments; b) the harnessing of potential for insertion of scientific information networks and the appropriation of its fundamental aspects, having virtual environments such as collaboration spaces and authorship; c) a vision of librarian leading to the construction of proposals, to attempt to the contribution from the perspective of on-line experience as an a one more dissemination channel of information; d) the integration of subjects that act in practice on learning virtual environments; e) the definition of institutional policies for teaching-learning in virtual environments that are designed collectively.

Information and Communication Technology is used in the education field in Sweden toimprove learning quality. The aim of this research is to investigate the use of LearningManagement Systems in primary schools, in the specific context of the role of LearningManagement System (LMS) in learning and teaching processes from teachers‟perspectives. Furthermore, This Thesis aims to explore teachers‟ perceptions of how touse this learning management system which is used in primary Swedish schools.Six teachers from two different primary schools in small municipality in the south ofSweden participated in semi-structured interviews. The theoretical model of UnifiedTheory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) inspired this qualitativeresearch along with the other related past studies. This quantitative model was only usedto sensitize the research process, for collecting and analysing qualitative data in thisstudy.The different elements of the theory such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy,social influence and facilitating conditions along with studies helps in conducting studybasedon qualitative approach for analysing the interviews. The research results indicatethat teachers were content with the usage of this learning management system, but thereis a lack of knowledge regarding this system. The system is helpful in performanceevaluation, planning, communication and overall working for routine tasks. Theresponses of interviews showed that teachers are not trained for using the features ofLearning management system in the way that it is designed for. The findings showed thatteachers require the support from professionals to integrate the system into their routineplanning. Furthermore, they also emphasise on the need to make the system user-friendlywith easy navigation. The findings of this study were compared to previous studies, anda further comparison was carried out regarding how it relates to the determinants andmoderating factors such as peer influence, internal perceptions and motivations, timeconstraints, organisational structure and facilitating conditions. Hence, support andtraining are needed to enhance learning and teaching through this Learning managementsystem.

A presente tese investiga o potencial de inserção das Redes de Informação Científica nos processos de ensino-aprendizagem em Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) como apoio para o ensino exclusivamente a distância quanto como apoio ao ensino presencial. Como suporte a investigação, procurou-se construir panorama teórico fundamentado em estudos sobre a contribuição das TICs para o desenvolvimento e aperfeiçoamento de propostas e projetos, os desafios para usos das TICs na integração dos ambientes presenciais e virtuais de aprendizagem, no ensino em redes colaborativas de informação e no favorecimento à aprendizagem cooperativa, centrada no indivíduo e autônoma. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter descritivo e aplicado. O campo de pesquisa é a Rede BVS Odontologia Brasil, composta por 17 instituições de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Para investigar a infraestrutura e capacitação dos profissionais bibliotecários para inserção neste novo ambiente foram entrevistados diretores das bibliotecas integrantes da Rede utilizando a ferramenta Adobe Connect no período de dezembro/2014 a março/2015. A pesquisa revelou que, apesar do grande potencial para apoio à atividades de Ensino-Aprendizagem virtual no âmbito da área de conhecimento, a inserção da Rede BVS Odontologia nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem ainda se mostra pouco efetiva. Verificou-se que falta uma cultura de inovação, bem como um planejamento estratégico, tanto por parte das instituições como das bibliotecas, para a formulação e implementação de política de inovação relacionada a cinco aspectos fundamentais: a) a concepção de redes como um processo de ensino-aprendizagem pautado na construção e não na reprodução do conhecimento, aliada a um entendimento do potencial comunicacional dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem; b) o aproveitamento do potencial de inserção das redes de informação científica e a apropriação de seus aspectos fundamentais, tendo os ambientes virtuais como espaços de colaboração e autoria; c) uma visão do profissional bibliotecário que leve à construção de propostas formativas, atentando para a contribuição da perspectiva da experiência on-line como mais um canal de produção e disseminação da informação; d) a integração dos sujeitos que atuam em ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem; e) definição de políticas institucionais para ensino-aprendizagem em ambientes virtuais que sejam concebidas de forma colaborativa, considerando a necessidade de infra-estrutura e pessoal capacitado para atuação nesses novos ambientes. / The present thesis investigates the potential for insertion of Scientific Information Networks in the teaching-learning processes in the Learning Management System (LMS) as support for teaching exclusively by distance as to support for presential teaching. As support for investigation, we tried to build theoretical scenario based on studies on the contribution of ICT, for the development and improvement of proposals and projects, challenges to ICT use, in the integration of presential and virtual learning environments, in teaching in collaborative networks of information and in fostering cooperative learning, centered on the individual and autonomous. This is an exploratory research of descriptive and applied character. The research field is the VHL Network Dentistry Brazil, made up of 17 educational, research and extension institutions. To investigate the infrastructure and capacity of librarians for insertion in this new environment they were interviewed directors of Network members libraries using the Adobe Connect tool from December / 2014 to March / 2015. The research has revealed that despite the great potential for support of virtual Teaching-Learning activities in the framework of area of knowledge, the insertion of the VHL Dentistry Network in virtual learning environments also shown less effective. It was found that lack a culture of innovation as well as a strategic plan, both by institutions such as libraries, to the formulation and implementation of innovation policy related to five fundamental aspects: a) network conception as a process of teaching-learning process lined in construction and not in the reproduction of knowledge allied to an understanding of the communication potential of virtual learning environments; b) the harnessing of potential for insertion of scientific information networks and the appropriation of its fundamental aspects, having virtual environments such as collaboration spaces and authorship; c) a vision of librarian leading to the construction of proposals, to attempt to the contribution from the perspective of on-line experience as an a one more dissemination channel of information; d) the integration of subjects that act in practice on learning virtual environments; e) the definition of institutional policies for teaching-learning in virtual environments that are designed collectively.

Submitted by Kamila Costa (kamilavasconceloscosta@gmail.com) on 2015-06-11T20:27:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Dhanielly P R de Lima.pdf: 4096663 bytes, checksum: fad619bf150f86206922b434efb5a67f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-15T18:19:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Dhanielly P R de Lima.pdf: 4096663 bytes, checksum: fad619bf150f86206922b434efb5a67f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-15T18:20:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Dhanielly P R de Lima.pdf: 4096663 bytes, checksum: fad619bf150f86206922b434efb5a67f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-15T18:20:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Dhanielly P R de Lima.pdf: 4096663 bytes, checksum: fad619bf150f86206922b434efb5a67f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The increase use of Learning Management Systems (LMS) as disseminators of knowledge aids students in developing knowledge and provides an interaction between people through computational tools mediated by the teacher (mediator or tutor). However, many LMSs does not have a mechanism or tool to aid the teacher to get detailed information about the social interaction between students and their group. This complicates the teacher’s awareness with regard to social relations established within the discipline. Based on this information, this paper proposes and details an approach to this problem that makes use of a Multi-Agent System architecture directed to the analysis of the interactions of groups. As proof of concept, a prototype was developed as using a software methodology for Multi-Agent Systems in order to analyze the interactions between students that occurred in the forums and messages of a course in the LMS Moodle and present this information to the teacher in the form of sociogram or table. In this way, the teacher can visually monitor the interactions of students within the course, and adopt tactics that promote social inclusion. To validate the work a case study was performed, a class of a course of Distance Education in a Higher Education Institution (HEI). According to the results obtained in simulated tests and a real class, it is clear that the graphic visualization of interactions of students in the forums and messages, when combined with the proactivity of agents, can corroborate the work done by mediators. The vizualization of the interactions provides to the teachers a more comprehensive, clear and quick view of social interactions established in the discipline, facilitating a option to intervene intentionally through teaching strategies such as to encourage students to develop the communication, interaction and the creation of new groups. / A crescente utilização de Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem (AVA) como disseminadores do conhecimento auxilia os alunos na construção do saber e proporciona uma interação entre as pessoas via ferramentas computacionais mediadas pelo professor (mediador ou tutor). Contudo, muitos AVAs não possuem um mecanismo ou ferramenta para auxiliar o professor a obter informações detalhadas acerca das interações sociais dos alunos e dos seus grupos. Isso dificulta a percepção por parte do professor no que diz respeito às relações sociais estabelecidas dentro da disciplina. Com base nessas informações, o presente trabalho propõe e detalha uma abordagem para esse problema que faz uso de uma arquitetura de Sistemas Multiagente voltada para a análise das interações dos grupos. Como prova de conceito, um protótipo foi desenvolvido a partir de uma metodologia de software para Sistemas Multiagente, com o objetivo de analisar as interações entre os estudantes que ocorreram nos fóruns e nas mensagens de um curso no AVA Moodle e, apresentar essas informações ao professor sob a forma de sociograma ou tabela. Desta forma, o professor pode acompanhar visualmente as interações de seus alunos dentro do curso e adotar táticas que promovam a inserção social. Para validar o trabalho, foi realizado um estudo de caso como avaliação de viabilidade, numa turma de um curso de Educação a Distância (EaD) de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES). De acordo com os resultados obtidos nos testes simulados e com uma turma real, pode-se concluir que a visualização gráfica das interações dos alunos nos fóruns e nas mensagens, quando aliadas à proatividade dos agentes, pode corroborar o trabalho desempenhado pelos mediadores. A visualização das interações proporciona aos docentes uma visão mais abrangente, clara e rápida das relações sociais estabelecidas na disciplina, facilitando a opção de intervir intencionalmente por meio de estratégias didáticas, tais como incentivar os alunos no desenvolvimento da comunicação, na interação e na criação de novos grupos.