Challenges to implement distance education in Mexico. The UASLP case

Abstract

Distance learning, as an alternative to make students’ school career more flexible and the experience acquired during academic continuity in pandemic conditions, coerce the implementation of institutional strategies that allow the incorporation of non-face-to-face and mixed modalities in current educational programs. The objective of this work was to analyze the problems, needs and proposals to strategically incorporate distance subjects in current school educational programs given the current conditions of the educational scenario in Mexico. The methodology used was non-experimental, and exploratory. 78 members of the university community participated with academic, management and teaching responsibilities, linked to 34 educational programs. The approach was qualitative an done in three stages, the techniques used in data collection were focus groups, case studies and personal feedback. It is concluded that the main challenges for incorporating distance or mixed subjects are to have adequate pedagogical training, the formation of work teams, financial resources, the adaptation of administrative processes (school and work), and the technological enablement of students and teachers.