O b-learning no desenvolvimento de competências em recuperação da informação

The adequacy of higher education degrees to the Bologna process implied, in many cases, a change in the selection of the various possible approaches, depending on the scientific-technical domain and on the essence of each curricular unit (CU), to the teaching/learning process. The accent switched from knowledge transmission to skills development through an active participation of the student inside the process itself. In Information Science (IS), the subject area of Information Retrieval (IR) is an exciting challenge in applying the principles of Bologna either by belonging to the «core» of IS either by being an area where there has always been a great research activity. Through a review of the latest literature about teaching and learning in IR, a case study is presented on developing a CU where b-learning is used as a strategy for developing skills in future information professionals. Beyond the skills to develop in students, the selection of the CU program and the methods / techniques of teaching, are also explored and discussed the evaluation methods that may be more appropriate in a CU with these characteristics. Through the analysis of data concerning the performance evaluation of students by the teacher and the evaluation of the CU by the students, it is concluded that the adoption of the mixed education system b-learning has a positive impact on the development of skills of IR. Finally, new developments and experiences are considered within the CU «Information Retrieval» in the degree of Science and Technologies of Documentation and Information of the Escola Superior de Estudos Industriais e de Gestão at the Instituto Politécnico do Porto.