The Joys and Thrills of Science Investigations (original) (raw)
Related papers
INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE TEACHING: BREAKING BARRIERS IN THE LEARNING OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), 2019
This study presents an active methodology for the teaching of photosynthesis developed during science classes and reports the process of applying investigative activities in a class of the sixth year of elementary education II, analyzing its impact on the previous knowledge of the students. The results obtained evoked a clear evolution in the conceptual profile of the students after the accomplishment of the investigative activities, however some evidences and conceptions are still relatively distant from the knowledge about the contemporary science. It was clearly perceived that students depend on the book to respond to the suggestions given in class, demonstrating a lack of autonomy in critical and reflective thinking. On the other hand, the students had a good participation in the discussions and showed themselves involved with the activity. These data point to the importance of a recursive approach to complex concepts such as photosynthesis throughout the schooling process. Thus, in spite of the difficulties encountered, it is considered possible and necessary the use of investigative activities in schools to favor, in addition to the development of abilities, the students\' capacity for argument and possibility to develop more solid, critical and creative thoughts.
Brazilian Applied Science Review
We present, in this text, the partial results of a study that analyzed the construction of meanings in a Science teacher training class, with qualification in the discipline of Chemistry. The proposal was based on the students' role, in which they could teach classes to their classmates, after a series of reflections and theoretical studies on the elaboration of concepts. For this, we chose to present, as part of a larger study, one of the episodes given by the students. The data allowed us to consider that the episode taught has characteristics that closely represent the teacher's intention to create problems, but still characterized by the traditional approach, with little appreciation of the participation of students in the process of building their own knowledge.
Abstract This qualitative study examined student teachers’ views on the value of undertaking small-scale research as part of the secondary teacher training course, and evaluated quality of the research reports prepared by the student teachers in terms of meeting the methodological requirements. Data was gathered by a questionnaire composed of open-ended question and completed by 76 chemistry and biology student teachers, semi-structured interviews were done with 11 of those who completed the questionnaire and 14 research reports was analysed. The results indicate that student teachers valued small-scale research project as a learning activity, and gained significant knowledge of research methodology as well as the title/concepts they studied and problem solving skills. Most saw research as offering the potential to provide valuable insights into teaching and learning. Keywords: Educational research, Small-scale research, Student teacher, Teacher training Résumé Cette étude qualitative vise à analyser les opinions des candidats-maîtres en secondaire sur la valeur d’une recherche à une petite échelle et à évaluer du point de vue de la méthodologie la conformité aux critères du rapport de recherche préparé par les candidats-maîtres. Les données ont été obtenues par un questionnaire composé des questions ouvertes-fermées, rempli par 76 candidats-maîtres dans le domaine de la chimie et de la biologie, par une analyse des interviews semi-structurés réalisées avec 11 étudiants choisis parmi 76 et celle de 14 rapports de recherches préparés par les candidats. Les résultats révèlent que les candidats-maîtres considèrent une recherche à une petite échelle comme profitable et qu’ils apprennent à maîtriser à la fois la méthodologie et le thème/le concept recherché et qu’ils améliorent ainsi leur capacité de résoudre un problème. La majorité des participants se mettent d’accord sur l’utilité des recherches à effectuer par les candidats pour leur apprentissage. Mots-clés: Recherche sur l’éducation, une recherche à une petite échelle, le candidat-maître, la formation des formateurs. Zusammenfassung In dieser qualitativen Arbeit werden die Ansichten der Kursteilnehmerlehrer über den Wert des Unternehmens der kleinräumigen Forschung als Teil der Sekundärausbildung der Lehrer-kursieren überprüft und die vorbereitete Qualität der Forschung-Reports wird von den Kursteilnehmerlehrern in dem Entsprechen der methodologischen Anforderungen ausgewertet. Die Daten wurden durch einen Fragebogen erfasst durchgeführt, der aus offener Frage bestand und von 76 Chemie- und den Biologiekursteilnehmerlehrern verwendet wurde, 11 davon waren in halb-strukturierten Interviews erfolgt, die den Fragebogen durchführten und 14 Forschung Reports wurden analysiert. Die Resultate zeigen an, dass die Kursteilnehmerlehrer das Projekt für kleinröumige Forschung für vorteilig halten und dadurch sie sowohl Methodenlehre für Forschung als wie Thema/Begriff Verhältnis erlernen. Sie drücken aus, daß sie fähig gewesen sind, dadurch die Probleme zu lösen. Die meisten verstanden, dass wissenschaftliche Forschung zum Erlernen und Lehren großen Beitrag leisten. Schlüsselwörter: Pädagogische Forschung, kleinräumige Forschung, Kursteilnehmerlehrer-Kandidaten, Lehrerausbildung.
Scientific Initiation: Stimulus for research and path to knowledge production
2021
The collection of scientific articles brings together articles authored by the teachers of the Undergraduate Courses in Chemistry, Mathematics and Food Technology at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Tocantins IFTO-Paraíso do Tocantins campus. The scientific articles referring to the areas of exact and earth sciences, agrarian sciences and engineering, were prepared based on research and scientific initiation works developed, during the years 2018 and 2019, by teachers with the collaboration of scholarship students and volunteers, in order to contribute for academic quality, providing the ability to learn using the stimulus of scientific research and the production of knowledge. The scientific works in this collection were presented at conferences, in an expanded summary format, allowing its authors to exchange experiences with researchers from Brazilian universities, members of the scientific communities in Brazil and abroad, on the dissemination and application of scientific research carried out. The publication of the collection reflects the commitment of the organizing professors with the technical-scientific bases and the development of scientific research in the undergraduate courses of the IFTO Campus Paraíso do Tocantins.
Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 2023
One of the ways in which students can be taught science is by doing science, the intention being to help students understand the nature, processes, and methods of science. Investigative research projects may be used in an attempt to reflect some aspects of science more authentically than other teaching and learning approaches, such as confirmatory practical activities and teacher demonstrations. In this article, we are interested in the affordances of investigative research projects where students, either individually or collaboratively, undertake original research. We provide a critical rather than a systematic review of the field. We begin by examining the literature on the aims of science education, and how science is taught in schools, before specifically turning to investigative research projects. We examine how such projects are typically undertaken before reviewing their aims and, in more detail, the consequences for students of undertaking such projects. We conclude that we need social science research studies that make explicit the possible benefits of investigative research projects in science. Such studies should have adequate control groups that look at the long-term consequences of such projects not only by collecting delayed data from participants, but by following them longitudinally to see whether such projects make any difference to participants' subsequent education and career destinations. We also conclude that there is too often a tendency for investigative research projects for students in science to ignore the reasons why scientists work in particular areas and to assume that once a written report of the research has been authored, the work is done. We therefore, while being positive about the potential for investigative research projects, make specific recommendations as to how greater authenticity might result from students undertaking such projects.
Teachers’ use of questioning in supporting learners doing science investigations
South African Journal of Education, 2011
I examine how teachers employ a questioning strategy in supporting Grade 9 learners doing science investigations in South African schools. A particular focus of this study was how teachers use questioning in contributing towards the autonomy of these learners. The research adopted a qualitative approach which involved the collection of data by means of classroom observations and interviews with five teachers at schools resourced for practical work. The analysis of transcript data revealed that teachers support learners by asking probing questions at all stages of the investigation. The teachers used a questioning strategy in enabling the learners to understand more clearly the question or hypothesis they intended investigating, to review and reconsider their planning, to rethink some of their actions when collecting data, to make sense of their data, and to revisit and amend their plan after generating incorrect findings. The significance of this study, in making explicit teacher questioning at the stages of the investigation, is that it provides a guideline for teachers on how to support learners attain greater autonomy in doing science investigations.