Using Microsoft Teams, Estácio is taking online classes to 300,000 students

Due to the current scenario, the institution expects to present around 15 thousand classes per week; the current model already registers 80% of approval by the students

More than 300 thousand Estácio students across the country are using Microsoft Teams, a collaboration platform, to continue their classes. The decision to migrate to remote education was made with the objective of minimizing the impacts due to the scenario of COVID-19 and the estimate is that 15 thousand classes are taught weekly.

According to Estácio, 80% of the students evaluated the online classes as excellent or good and the model is registering high rates of attendance, sometimes even higher than those identified in person. In the medical course, for example, the 130 scheduled classes had 99% attendance. In addition, management identified that participation in simulations had a participation record, reaching 68%, compared to 50% when the model was carried out in person.

"Even in the context of the crisis, the number of access to this activity has increased. This is evidence that students are really studying from home and have incorporated remote classes as part of their daily lives. Their academic life is flowing, without prejudice" , celebrates Juliana Matos, Director of Education.

Now, students continue to be organized according to their courses and classes and have, online, the same classes they would have in person, with their respective teachers and according to the pre-established schedules in the academic calendar. The schedules are transmitted live through Microsoft Teams, with interactions of doubts and discussions via chat, and are recorded on the platform for later access.

"I realize that many students who are more ashamed of participating in classroom classes feel more comfortable asking questions via the web. The number of questions is higher and students deal with the platform very easily. It is a generation that likes the virtual environment. and is doing very well with the new class format ", explains Prof. Dra. Tâmara Lis, from the Journalism, Advertising and Graphic Design courses at the Estácio unit in Juiz de Fora (MG).

In addition to the students, the change impacted the faculty and also the administrative sector, which continues with the routine of attending students via Microsoft Teams. In addition, Estácio is conducting its first online entrance exam for courses that will start in the second semester.