The strength model of self-control predicts that when people exert self-control, they should show performance decrements on subsequent self-control tasks. However, it is possible that this pattern of behaviour is confined to specific experimental procedures, which amplifies the effect. The aims of this thesis are to; 1) test the strength model predictions in sport; and 2) examine emotion as a mediator of self-control performance effects. Study 1 consisted of two experiments. Experiment 1 set out to demonstrate a pattern of resource depletion. Forty-three sport and exercise students performed either an incongruent (self-control depletion) or congruent (control) Stroop task before and after performing a virtual reality cycling task on an indoor cycling ergometer. Findings showed the depletion group performed worse on the second Stroop task than on their first task or than the control group. Experiment 2 sought to address some of the methodological concerns in Experiment 1, and examine emotion as a factor explaining performance. Forty-eight physically active participants followed the same experimental protocol, but with an additional iteration of both tasks. Results demonstrated that both cycling and Stroop task performance improved across time. In addition, participants reported feeling happier and more motivated during the second cycling task. Study 2 provided a conceptual replication of Study 1, using different tests of self-control. Twenty-six university-level male soccer players either performed the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) with (self-control depletion) or without (control) an audio file simulating crowd noise, and then performed the wall squat muscle endurance test. The self-control depletion group reported feeling more anxious during the LSPT and performed worse than the controls on the wall squat. III Next, in Study 3, nineteen well-trained competitive endurance runners performed a self-paced 1600 m running trial and then ran a second trial either self-paced or with a pacemaker. The pacemaker had no significant effect on actual performance time but participants reported feeling more anxious beforehand and adopted a fast start strategy, whereas the self-paced group had a conservative pacing pattern. Study 4 showed that, for females, consuming a sports drink—as opposed to plain water—associated with better physical (high-intensity track running) and cognitive self-control (Stroop) performance. In addition, they appeared to be happier drinking water, and more anxious drinking the sports drink—an effect that diverged over the six weeks. Study 5 examined the effects of three strategies—designed to increase or decrease the intensity of emotions—on emotion, pacing strategy and 1600 m performance. Results showed the intervention designed to decrease unpleasant emotions was associated with lower anxiety, higher calmness, a slower first 400 m, and more overall consistent pacing strategy. Study 6 examined the effects of imagery training on swimming tumble-turn performance. Findings showed no significant intervention effect, a result that goes against the proposed benefits of psychological skills training and runs counter to the predictions of the strength model. Collectively, the evidence in the thesis provides limited support for the strength model. It is concluded that self-control performance does not inevitably deteriorate across self-control tasks where the individual is well-versed with the task demands, or where tasks are not physically strenuous enough to tax mental resources. In contrast, the explanation for performance deterioration across a series of novel tasks is likely to extend beyond that of a self-control resources perspective. Future research might profitably test this proposal.

Background: Antibiotics are prescribed frequently for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) despite the fact that most of them do not require antibiotics. This over-prescription contributes to antibiotic resistance which is a major health problem. Physicians perceive that patients’ expectations influence their antibiotic prescribing practice. Methods: As the first phase of the thesis, we conducted a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of patient-oriented interventions to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics for URTIs. As the second phase, we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore patients’ views about URTIs and identify ways they manage them by using semi-structured interviews based on Common Sense-Self-Regulation Model (CS-SRM). Results: Our systematic review included 14 studies which based on their interventions were classified into two major categories: delayed prescriptions and patient/public information and education interventions. Our meta-analysis revealed that almost all studies with delayed prescription significantly reduced use of antibiotics for URTIs. Our subgroup analysis showed that prescriptions that were given at a later time and prescriptions that were given at the index consultation had similar effects regarding antibiotic use. The small number of included studies in the patient/public information and education group did not allow us to make a definite conclusion on their effectiveness. For the qualitative study, 15 individuals were interviewed. almost all participants mentioned that they only visited their doctor if their symptoms got progressively worse and they could no longer self-manage URTI symptoms. When visiting a doctor, most participants reported that they expected to receive an examination and an explanation for their symptoms. Discussion: Patient-oriented interventions (especially delayed prescriptions) may be effective in reducing antibiotic use or prescription for URTIs in patients. Further research is needed to investigate the costs and feasibilities of implementing these interventions as part of routine clinical practice. Our participants reported good knowledge regarding the likely lack of benefit from antibiotics for URTIs. The results suggest a discrepancy between our participants’ reported reasons for visiting doctors and doctors’ perceptions about patients’ reason for their visit identified in previous studies. Focusing on interventions that facilitate the communication between patients and doctors, instead of providing more education to public may help in reducing the use of unnecessary antibiotics.

Le sevrage tabagique classique, pose toujours problème par son efficacité réduite et le nombre important de rechutes. Cette étude longitudinale se propose de mesurer l'évolution des variations de scores du stress professionnel, de l'anxiété, de la dépression, de l'estime de soi, lors d'un sevrage tabagique mené par les TCC et la sophrologie ainsi que la substitution nicotinique, sans utiliser une prise médicamenteuse, par voie orale, et en donner une solution « sur mesure » à long terme qui essaie d'éviter les rechutes. C'est une étude longitudinale avec un suivi d'une année et 29 séances d'intervention. L'échantillon est composé de 166 personnes, dont 134 fumeurs, fumant entre 5 et 40 cigarettes par jour, dont 102 ont consulté pour sevrage tabagique, individuel ou en groupe. De 166 patients ayant participé à l'étude 17 patients ont abandonné. Cette démarche thérapeutique d'une année est plus efficace avec 95 % de maintien de l'arrêt de cigarette après 1 an que la prise en charge classique.Elle permet le maintien de l'arrêt pour un coût de santé moindre mais impose un suivi plus astreignant de la part des intervenants. Une étude partant des observations pratique et ayant essayé de trouver une base théorique pouvant expliquer les observations pratiques recueillies dans la pratique quotidienne du sevrage tabagique, faite par un médecin urgentiste, tabacologue et sophrologue. / Classic smoking cessation remains a continuous challenge, both with regard to is efficiency and in the number of relapses. This longitudinal study was aimed at verifying the evolution of changes in stress, anxiety, depression and self esteem scores during smoking cessation following cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), sophrology and nicotine replacement therapy, without the use of oral medication. The study was conducted with a follow-up of one year and 29 intervention sessions. The population sample consisted of 166 individuals, including 134 smokers, smoking between 5 and 40 cigarettes per day, of which 102 were admitted for smoking cessation, individually or as a group. The above therapeutic approach, based on "smoker's profile self regulation therapy", was found to be more effective than the classical smoking cessation approach, with 95% maintenance of smoking cessation after one year. Moreover, it allowed maintenance with lower healthcare costs, although necessitated a more onerous monitoring by smoking cessation specialists. This study seems to confirm that a long sustained follow up smoking cessation, based on targeted "smoker's profile" is more effective than any other approach. Several identical studies on more cases are necessary to confirm or to infirm this tobacco cessation way efficiency.

Submitted by Bibiana Alcântara Garrido (bibiana.garrido@hotmail.com) on 2018-10-09T21:25:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação FINAL.pdf: 2903341 bytes, checksum: 5289856ee9ee40ca716b143f67c0b3e1 (MD5) / Rejected by Lucilene Cordeiro da Silva Messias null (lubiblio@bauru.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: 1 - Inserir no corpo do texto a ficha catalográfica, pois é um ítem obrigatório. 2 - Inserir no corpo do texto a cópia da ata de defesa, pois é um ítem obrigatório. Agradecemos a compreensão on 2018-10-10T16:21:09Z (GMT) / Submitted by Bibiana Alcântara Garrido (bibiana.garrido@hotmail.com) on 2018-10-11T12:22:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Bibiana-Repositório.pdf: 3373960 bytes, checksum: 841bce05766c6c196012e41ad129faa4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Lucilene Cordeiro da Silva Messias null (lubiblio@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-10-11T12:31:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 garrido_ba_me_bauru.pdf: 3373960 bytes, checksum: 841bce05766c6c196012e41ad129faa4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-11T12:31:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 garrido_ba_me_bauru.pdf: 3373960 bytes, checksum: 841bce05766c6c196012e41ad129faa4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Códigos editoriais, códigos de ética, sistemas de gestão, instrumentos de responsabilização da mídia e suas implicações para práticas e rotinas de produção industrial que gerem qualidade no jornalismo são basilares ao estabelecerem princípios, normas e condutas a serem seguidos pelas organizações de mídia e seus profissionais. Sua instituição adquire um papel especial no fortalecimento da democracia e contribui para a obtenção de diversidade, pluralidade e rigor na apuração jornalística como parâmetros de credibilidade das mídias. Esta pesquisa caracterizou o papel de dispositivos e aparatos de gestão da qualidade de mídia na contemporaneidade e indicou aspectos centrais de sua aplicação no Brasil e Reino Unido, em caráter comparativo. A análise das condições de existência, conteúdo e acesso de políticas de gestão da qualidade editorial de 42 organizações de mídia foi realizada por meio do Sistema Q-Avalia (UFS/CNPq). Os resultados, que incluem um ranking multidimensional das organizações avaliadas, são comentados conforme três chaves de interpretação: qualidade como desdobramento de políticas normativas; qualidade como desdobramento da concorrência de mercado; e qualidade como simulacro. / Editorial guidelines, codes of ethics, management systems, media accountability and their implications for industrial production practices and routines that generate quality journal-ism are fundamental as they establish principles, standards and conducts to be followed by media organizations and professional staff. Their existence acquires a special role on the empowerment of democracy and it contributes to the obtainment of diversity, plurality and accuracy in journalistic investigation as parameters to media credibility. This research has characterized media quality management devices role on contemporaneity and have indicated central aspects to its application at Brazil and United Kingdom, from a comparative perspective. The analysis of existence, content and access conditions to editorial quality management of 42 media vehicles was done by the means of Sistema Q-Avalia (UFS/CNPq). Results include a multidimensional ranking of the evaluated organizations and are commented according to three interpretation keys: quality as an unfolding of normative policies; quality as an unfolding of market competition; and quality as a simulacrum.

A presente tese propõe o reconhecimento dos novos papéis desempenhados pela autonomia privada na regulação de aspectos da sociedade da informação. Dada a dimensão da rede de computadores, o seu carater transnacional e a dificuldade para e estabelecimento de uma regulação jurídica internacional uniforme, a autonomia privada, como poder de pradução de efeitos jurídicos, pode apresentar-se como alternativa complementar (nãoexcludente) para a disciplina de questões relacionadas ao estabelecimento de pactos negociais através da rede (o chamado comércio eletrônico) e para a eventual diluição de conflitos deles decorrentes. Ante a ampla liberdade concedida aos particulares e que se materializa através dos inúmeros e criativos empregos que continuamente têm sido atribuidos à rede de computadores, espreita-se uma gama variável de riscos decorrentes do exercício da própria liberdade e que dizem respeito, exemplificativamente,à disseminação de sites eletrônicos falsos, o não-cumprimento de contratos e a ineficácia de decisões judiciais para além dos limites territoriais do Estado prolator da decisão. Em vista destes fatos (a circunscrição da sociedade da informação entre os limites da liberdade e do risco), a tese propõe a contenção dos perigos e o reforço da segurança dos negócios jurídicos mediante o exercício da autonomia privada. Neste esforço se situam os procedimentos de certificação dos sites e de suas práticas através de selos (labelização), gerando uma nomatividade particular, de caráter obrigatório aos que a ela se submetam, transcendente das fronteiras nacionais. Ao mesmo tempo, propõe-se o estabelecimento de mecanismos para a solução de eventuais conflitos que levem em conta as características mais próprias da comércio online, tais como a distância entre as partes, a sobreposição de ordenamentos jurídicos diversos e a necessidade de agilidade das decisões através dos chamados online dispute resolution, notadamente através do emprego da arbitragem eletrônica. / Examine some of the characters that could be played by the private autonomy for the regulation of the information's society aspects that's wanted in this text (thesis). Because of the dimension of tbe computer's net is given, his transnational character and the difficulty for the establishment of international legal standard regulations, the private autonomy, as a power of auto-regulations for private interests, could presents itself as an alternative to discipline questions related to the establishment of negotiable agreements through the net and the eventual dilution of conflicts. So, the prelminary question is about the fact that the infomation's society is based between the liberty and the risk. Before of the great liberty allowed to the private users that shows up through the innumerable and creative uses that has to be attributed to the computer´s net, it could be observed a great variable of risks resulting from the exercise of the own liberty, that had to be, specificaliy, with the false homepage dissemination, with the not compliance with the agreements and the inefficiency of the legal decisions beyond the territorid limits of the State that is responsible for the decision. Therefore, shows up a new psoposal for the business seded by the net, as resultkig from performative acts or from tacit declarations to conclude behaviors, both as expressions of the private liberty. For the risk's restrictions there is the suggestion for the site's certification and its practice with the use of stamps and the establishment of private forms of controversy's dilution, showing one actual expression of the private autonomy and of the civil society.

O objetivo desta Tese é analisar a efetividade de feedbacks informatizados sobre a auto-regulação da aprendizagem em um de curso superior a distância na área de Computação. A análise se deu a partir do desenvolvimento de um estudo de caso. O caso estudado constituiu-se da observação de registros provenientes da interação de alunos com uma ferramenta para a exercitação da construção de algoritmos em um curso superior de Tecnologia em Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas a distância. Comparamos os registros de feedbacks fornecidos pela ferramenta com o alcance do objetivo do aluno em construir um algoritmo sem erros de sintaxe verificados em tempo de execução. Conjuntamente analisamos o projeto pedagógico do curso que, à época deste estudo, atendia aproximadamente cinco mil alunos dispersos no território nacional. Para a análise e a discussão dos dados coletados foi construída uma fundamentação teórica tratando sobre educação a distância, avaliação e mediação da aprendizagem. A partir dos resultados de testes estatísticos de significância e correlação analisamos, dentro das condições de comunicação, estrutura e autonomia do curso, a efetividade dos feedbacks informatizados sobre a auto-regulação da aprendizagem dos alunos. Entre os principais resultados destacamos a constatação de que os feedbacks informatizados apresentam forte correlação com a auto-regulação da aprendizagem, no entanto, não podem ser apontados como causa direta de tal auto-regulação. Esperamos que esta Tese possa contribuir para a criação de recursos e sistemas informatizados capazes de ajudar estudantes a assumirem papéis mais ativos e determinantes nos seus próprios processos de aprendizagem, sobretudo, em cursos a distância. / The aim of this Thesis is analyzing the effectiveness of computerized feedback on self-regulation of learning in a distance education course of computation. The analysis was developed from a case study. The case study was developed from the observation of the students interactions with a tool for algorithms construction in a distance education course of Technology in Development and Systems Analysis. The records of feedback provided by the tool were compared with the reach of the student's goal in construct an algorithm with no runtime syntax errors. It was analyzed too the pedagogical project of the course that at the time of this study had approximately five thousand students scattered in the national territory. For analysis and discussion of the collected data was built a theoretical basis addressing distance education, assessment and mediation of learning. From the results of statistical tests of significance and correlation we analyzed within the conditions of communication, structure and autonomy of the course, the effectiveness of computerized feedback on self-regulation of students' learning. Among the key findings highlight the fact that the feedback systems have strong correlation with self-regulation of learning, however, can not be described as direct cause of such self-regulation. We hope that this thesis may contribute to the creation of resources and systems capable of helping students to take more active and decisive roles in their own learning processes especially in the distance courses.

Estudos anteriores sugeriram que as compras de experiências, tais como viagens e shows, deixam as pessoas mais felizes do que compras materiais, como, por exemplo, roupas e eletrônicos. E, por esta razão, sugerem que as pessoas passem a alocar mais a sua renda discricionária em tais tipos de compra. Entretanto, acredita-se que isto não é verdade para todos os indivíduos. O nível de felicidade com cada tipo de compra, provavelmente, varie de acordo com o estado motivacional das pessoas. À luz da teoria de self-regulation, hipotetizase que a felicidade derivada das compras depende da adequação entre as diferentes orientações motivacionais (prevention x promotion) e o tipo de compra (experiência x material). Em um estudo experimental, manipulou-se o tipo de compra e o regulatory focus, e se descobriu que os participantes com promotion focus, realmente, são mais felizes com as compras de experiência, no entanto, os participantes com prevention focus são tão felizes com as compras materiais quanto com as de experiência. Em um segundo estudo experimental, testou-se como os participantes com diferentes estados motivacionais alocam sua renda discricionária de modo a se sentirem mais felizes. Dado os resultados, sugere-se que os participantes com promotion focus são os que devem melhorar sua forma de investir para ficarem mais felizes, estes sim devem seguir a recomendação à experiência. Ainda, quando o trade-off entre os tipos de compra (experiência e material) estava saliente, os participantes com prevention focus, na seqüência, avaliaram as experiências mais favoravelmente do que quando o trade-off não estava saliente. / Experiential consumption - which is made with the primary intention of acquiring a life experience - usually yields greater happiness than material purchases. However, it might not be true for all individuals. The level of happiness in each type of purchase may vary according to one's motivational state. Building on research on subjective well-being and regulatory focus it is being put forward a hypothesis that happiness derived from purchases depends on the fit between self-regulation (individual differences) and the type of purchase (experiential versus material). In the first experimental study, the regulatory focus (prevention vs. promotion) and type of purchase (experiential vs. material) have been manipulated. The data shows that the promotion-focused participants indeed were happier with the experiential purchases than with the material ones. However, the prevention-focused participants were as happy with the material purchases as with the experiential purchases. In the second experimental study, it has been tested how the participants with different regulatory foci allocate their discretionary income as to feel happier. According to the results, its been suggested that in order to spend their income more judisciously, the promotion-focused participants should choose the experiential form of purchase and the prevention-focused participants should continue to invest in both types of purchases. Further, when the trade-off between the material and experiential purchases was made salient, experiences were subsequently evaluated more favorably than when the trade-off was not salient.

The advantages of an external focus of attention are very consistent within the motor learning literature. That is, focusing on cues external to the body while performing a task will allow for greater motor skill learning and performance benefits compared to focusing internally. Likewise, there is a vast consistency within the self-regulated learning literature. Individuals that are allowed to alter or adjust a certain characteristic of their practice environment have consistently performed significantly better than individuals following a predetermined practice arrangement mirroring the schedule determined by their self-regulated counterpart. The purpose of this study was to investigate the motor skill learning and performance benefits of choice in attentional focus instructions while executing a golf putt. It was hypothesized that in practice: the self-regulated and control groups will perform similar to each other, but both will perform better than the yoked group; all participants will perform better when focusing externally rather than internally; and a majority of participants within all groups would indicate that focusing externally rather than internally elicited greater performance benefits by the end of practice on day 1. It was also hypothesized that the self-regulated and control groups will perform similar to each other on the retention and transfer tests, but both will perform better than the yoked group; and finally, a majority of participants would indicate that focusing externally rather than internally will elicit greater performance benefits by the end of the retention and transfer tests respectively. The results from this study indicated that the self-regulated and control groups performed similar to each other during practice, retention and transfer, but did not differ significantly from the yoked group. Also, approximately only 40% of all participants believed that adopting an external focus of attention would elicit greater performance benefits than an internal focus during practice, retention and transfer. This study provides practitioners with an increased understanding of how a participant-controlled learning environment affects which focus of attention is adopted by the learner. Since the advantages of an external focus of attention are robust, and there appeared to be no clear preference for using one focus over the other when given a choice, it might be appropriate to suggest that practitioners should continue to promote an external focus of attention in their learning environments until further research investigating the interactions of self-regulated practice and attentional focus are conducted.

This thesis is presented as a collection of four studies in which the role of self-control in athletic performance is examined. Considerable evidence has documented the beneficial effects of trait self-control and robust self-confidence on a wide range of behaviours. However, the relationships between these constructs have yet to be specifically explored within the sport domain. As well as exploring the trait perspective of self-control, research has employed self-control manipulations and laboratory performance to examine state self-control. The completion of tasks requiring self-control have led to impaired performance on physical tasks, also requiring self-control. But it remains unclear whether previous exertion of self-control impairs subsequent performance when self-regulation is potentially automatic, and if any observed effects are variable over different stages of performance. Building on this work, glucose supplementation, and the duration of self-control effort have been proposed as potential moderators that may influence performance effects, yet controversy exists surrounding glucose consumption, and task duration has not been appropriately considered. Furthermore, the identification of explanatory mechanisms for performance decrements following self-control use is of theoretical significance. In particular, research is yet to explore whether an individual s perceptions of pain may explain why self-control exertion interferes with subsequent performance on a physical task. The current thesis aims to address these limitations of the extant literature. Study One examined whether an individual s general ability to exert self-control might be an important mechanistic variable that explains the relationship between robust self-confidence and athletic performance. Following an examination of trait self-control, an exploration of state self-control was deemed more relevant to situational performance. Therefore, Study Two and Three utilised a sequential-task paradigm to examine whether exerting self-control impairs subsequent endurance performance in well-trained individuals, and whether any observed effects are variable over different stages of endurance performance. Study Two and Three also examined moderators of the depletion effect. In particular, the potential for glucose supplementation (Study Two), and duration of self-control effort (Study Three), to attenuate any decrements in performance due to initial self-control exertion were explored. Following the investigation of moderators, Study Four examined whether performance decrements can be explained by an individual s perceptions of pain. Overall, the findings of this thesis suggest that trait self-control represents a potentially important mechanism by which athlete s with strong robust self-confidence progress and perform successfully. Furthermore, prior exertion of self-control impairs subsequent self-regulatory efforts during well-practiced endurance performance, but these effects are variable over different stages of performance. In addition, extended self-control effort may lead to the conservation of self-control, whilst glucose supplementation does not moderate self-control ability. Finally, perceptions of pain may explain why self-control exertion interferes with subsequent performance on a physical task.

O objetivo desta Tese é analisar a efetividade de feedbacks informatizados sobre a auto-regulação da aprendizagem em um de curso superior a distância na área de Computação. A análise se deu a partir do desenvolvimento de um estudo de caso. O caso estudado constituiu-se da observação de registros provenientes da interação de alunos com uma ferramenta para a exercitação da construção de algoritmos em um curso superior de Tecnologia em Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas a distância. Comparamos os registros de feedbacks fornecidos pela ferramenta com o alcance do objetivo do aluno em construir um algoritmo sem erros de sintaxe verificados em tempo de execução. Conjuntamente analisamos o projeto pedagógico do curso que, à época deste estudo, atendia aproximadamente cinco mil alunos dispersos no território nacional. Para a análise e a discussão dos dados coletados foi construída uma fundamentação teórica tratando sobre educação a distância, avaliação e mediação da aprendizagem. A partir dos resultados de testes estatísticos de significância e correlação analisamos, dentro das condições de comunicação, estrutura e autonomia do curso, a efetividade dos feedbacks informatizados sobre a auto-regulação da aprendizagem dos alunos. Entre os principais resultados destacamos a constatação de que os feedbacks informatizados apresentam forte correlação com a auto-regulação da aprendizagem, no entanto, não podem ser apontados como causa direta de tal auto-regulação. Esperamos que esta Tese possa contribuir para a criação de recursos e sistemas informatizados capazes de ajudar estudantes a assumirem papéis mais ativos e determinantes nos seus próprios processos de aprendizagem, sobretudo, em cursos a distância. / The aim of this Thesis is analyzing the effectiveness of computerized feedback on self-regulation of learning in a distance education course of computation. The analysis was developed from a case study. The case study was developed from the observation of the students interactions with a tool for algorithms construction in a distance education course of Technology in Development and Systems Analysis. The records of feedback provided by the tool were compared with the reach of the student's goal in construct an algorithm with no runtime syntax errors. It was analyzed too the pedagogical project of the course that at the time of this study had approximately five thousand students scattered in the national territory. For analysis and discussion of the collected data was built a theoretical basis addressing distance education, assessment and mediation of learning. From the results of statistical tests of significance and correlation we analyzed within the conditions of communication, structure and autonomy of the course, the effectiveness of computerized feedback on self-regulation of students' learning. Among the key findings highlight the fact that the feedback systems have strong correlation with self-regulation of learning, however, can not be described as direct cause of such self-regulation. We hope that this thesis may contribute to the creation of resources and systems capable of helping students to take more active and decisive roles in their own learning processes especially in the distance courses.