Autonomy in learning: a relationship between failure and success of Distance Education students

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research conducted with undergraduate students of distance education at face-to-face support learning centers of Roraima. The research aimed to analyze the relationship between autonomy in distance learning and students’ outcomes. The issue was to investigate which causes related to autonomy contributed to the low performance rate. The theoretical framework deals with Distance Education and autonomy in distance learning. It was a quali-quantitative research, delineated as a case study. The data analysis was structured in order to define the profile of the student, the factors that influence dropout and completion of the courses. The final remarks present evidence of interfering causes in the results and in the relationship with learning autonomy, involving students as learning structure, and the institution as teaching structure.