A expansão da educação a distância e o avanço dos recursos tecnológicos traz consigo o desafio da estruturação de materiais didáticos adequados para apoiar as ações pedagógicas nesses cursos. Neste contexto encontra-se a proposta de materiais didáticos estruturados como "Objetos de Aprendizagem" (OAs). Considera-se, aqui, que, para além de um material digital, um OA precisa funcionar como um elemento facilitador do processo de ensino e de aprendizado; para que isso ocorra, ele deve explicitar seus objetivos pedagógicos e ser estruturado de tal forma que seja autocontido (no que se refere ao conteúdo abordado), permitindo ser reusado em outras atividades ou cursos, para além daquela para o qual foi projetado. Com foco na explicitação de seus objetivos pedagógicos, este artigo apresenta a análise de um conjunto de 65 objetos de aprendizagem produzidos no Núcleo de Apoio à Educação a Distância (NAPEAD) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), discutindo os achados desta pesquisa e o ponto de vista de alguns dos diferentes atores envolvidos no processo de produção e uso desses OAs.

The evolution of distance education and the spread of technological resources bring about the challenge of structuring appropriate learning materials to support educational activities in these courses. In this context the proposal of instructional materials developed as "Learning Objects" (LOs) arises. In the research presented here a LO, in addition to its position of digital material, needs to work as an enhancer element of the teaching and learning process; for this to occur, it must explain its pedagogical objectives and be structured in such a self-contained way (with regard to the addressed content), allowing it to be reused in other activities or courses, beyond its original design. Focusing on explicit teaching objectives, this paper presents the analysis of a set of 65 learning objects produced in the Support Center for Distance Education (Núcleo de Apoio à Educação a Distância - NAPEAD) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). It discusses the research findings and the point of view of some of the different actors involved in the process of production and use of these LOs.

Empirical studies have revealed that most users are dissatisfied with current help systems. One of the causes for many of the problems found in help systems is a lack of coupling between the process for creating online help and the human-computer interaction design of the application. In this paper, we present a method for building online help based on design models according to a Semiotic Engineering approach. We argue that there may be important benefits to the users if designers communicate their design vision, and we also point at the need to change current design practices to encourage creative and intelligent use of computer applications. We show how this proposal opens a direct communication channel from designers to users, and we hope this will contribute to introducing this new culture.