Biomedical Research Mentorship: The Young Investigators' Innovative High School Program (original) (raw)
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In: Shaping the Future of Biological Education Research: Selected Papers from the ERIDOB 2022 Conference, Korfiatis, K., Grace, M. & Hammann, M. (Eds), Springer, Cham, pp. 107-117. , 2024
School biology often entails undertaking practical work, which is generally intended to help students gain conceptual understanding, practical and wider skills, and understanding of how biologist work (Kampourakis & Reiss, 2018). However, the literature on practical work in school science indicates that it often achieves less than its proponents intend (Abrahams & Millar, 2008; Gatsby Charitable Foundation, 2017). Investigative school research projects are relatively uncommon, relative to other types of practical work, such as confirmatory practical activities (intended to produce the same result for all students every time), but it has been argued that they can give students a better understanding of what it is like to undertake authentic science. A systematic review found that investigative student science research projects could have a number of benefits for students including the learning of science ideas, affective responses to science, intentions to pursue careers involving science, and development of a range of skills, some specific to practical work and others, such as collaborative teamwork, more general (Bennett et al., 2018). Nevertheless, this same review concluded that further work is needed to enhance the quality of the available evidence and to explore more fully the potential longer-term benefits of participation in such projects at secondary school level.
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Brazilian socioeconomic inequalities and their impact on education and employment are well documented (Menezes Filho & Scorzafave 2009). In general, Brazilian students tend to achieve less in science, mathematics and problemsolving (PISA, 2006; Bussière et al 2006). Nevertheless, those in Brazil who have the opportunity to go to High School may take part of interesting educational programs in science training for youth.