COMPETENCIES AND FUNCTIONS OF ONLINE TUTORS IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

ABSTRACT: This article explores the competences and functions of online tutors in distance education (DE). It involves a literature review and the elaboration of a theoretical model to guide the training of tutors. The texts selected in the review are analyzed qualitatively by a coding and categorization process supported by MAXQDA. Literature-based codes are initially proposed, but others are included during the analysis. The model presented considered the frequency of occurrence of categories in the texts. Among the competences of online tutors, the following stand out: managerial, disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, communication skills, socio-affective skills and technological skills. The basic functions of the online tutor in DE, identified in the research, are: management, pedagogy and social. The proposed model seeks to relate these competencies to these functions. It should serve, in this sense, to guide the training of tutors, in opposition to the tendency of precariousness of online teaching work.