Alfabetização científica em nível médio e a preparação dos cidadãos para o processo de tomada de decisões

The concept of scientific literacy nowadays is permeated by principles eventually inconsistent. Development of cognitive skills, preparation for continuing studies in higher education, preparation for working life and the strengthening of citizenship are some of the competing goals of science education. In respect of Science, Technology, Society and Environment (STSE) Education, the politics of science should be properly taken into account by science education. This paper examines the concept of scientific literacy in the context of STSE Education and points to why and how physics education in high school curriculum should address topics of energy consumption and production in order to provide the background necessary to assess public policies of science, technology and innovation, in particular the Decennial Plan for Expansion of Energy 2020, subjected to public consultation by the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy in 2011.

O papel do ensino informal de ciências: uma análise sobre o impacto do show de energia sobre o interesse dos alunos para cursos das áreas de ciências exatas

Our work aims to discuss the teaching of science in the context of informal education. Thus, we present and analyze the results of an initiative that we have made seeking to interest high school students to study sciences and technology. The Energy shows are activities which are presented in experimental demonstrations of science concepts to middle school students. After the show the students respond to a questionnaire which formed the basis for this study. The results indicate that the achievement of shows have had an impact on students.

Educação, Estado e Poder: o ensino médio em debate na Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos (1962-1972)

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Atividade física e uso de drogas entre estudantes de ensino fundamental e médio

The research examines the relationship between drug use and physical activity in school. We used an anonymous self-questionnaire among students in elementary and middle school in a Brazilian city. The mean age was 15.1 ± 1.5 years. There was no significant difference between energy expenditure and drug use, crack use except in life that related to significantly higher values of energy expenditure and habitual for the past thirty days, cocaine use was associated with higher energy expenditure habitual (p <0.05). We emphasize the need investigations addressing specific features of involvement in school and extracurricular activities, physical activity, drug use and their contributions to school health.

Educação sexual nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental: currículo e práticas de uma escola pública da cidade de Marília-SP

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Braquistócrona

Pós-graduação em Matemática em Rede Nacional - IBILCE

Números Complexos: um estudo histórico sobre sua abordagem na coleção Matemática 2º ciclo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Altas habilidades ou superdotação: um estudo em uma Diretoria de Ensino da rede estadual paulista

Special Education includes gifted students. There is a lack of resources and information for identification and care of such students. They were research objectives map students with giftedness characteristic in Elementary and Middle School in Bauru/SP, as well as verify what teachers know about the issue and if they know how to work with such students in their classrooms. This qualitative, quantitative and descriptive research was structured in three stages. Step A: an observation guide of gifted children, Guia de observação de crianças dotadas e talentosas. Step B: True or False questions on the subject. Step C, field diary. Two hundred and thirty one classes from 24 schools were evaluated and 477 students were identified with giftedness characteristic in at least one of six possible areas. Three hundred and one students were in Elementary School and 176 were in Middle School. In Step B, 280 teachers from 26 schools were part of this study and it is confirmed that they have theoretical knowledge on the subject because the number of hits on the main concepts (based on the literature) was superior to the number of misses. A 4th grade classroom, with a gifted girl, was observed in step C. It was found that the teacher pedagogical practice and the resources used are not different from the ones used with other students. Thus, it appears that the student has not received the curricular adaptations to assist her developing skills

Improvements of nutrition behavior fitness and body fatness with a short-term after school intervention program

The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing worldwide and lifestyle changes are the most important strategies in managing this prevalence. This study aimed to describe the intervention effects of nutrition and physical activities offered as an after school short-term on outcomes of healthy nutrition practices, fitness and lowering fatness. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a convenience sample of 59 caucasian children, aged 7.7 ± 1.4 years old (52.5% girls) registered on a private school of a middle-size town located in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The school-based 12-week intervention consisted of 2 weekly 60 minutes section, during 3 months, including a nutritional education and a physical activity curriculum. Anthropometric data was measured for all children at baseline and after 12 weeks. All parents were contacted and requested to complete questionnaire about child’s eating behavior at baseline and after the 12-week program. After the intervention, children showed an increasing in the intake of fruits (64.3%), vegetables (61.9%), and water (52.0%). Overall, 83.3% of the children changed eating behavior according to the questionnaire responded by the parents. Waist circumference was significantly lower and abdominal strength improved after participating in the intervention program. Mean height and weight were significantly higher in boys and girls after a 12-week intervention. Although mean values of BMI remained the same after the intervention it was observed a decreasing in the prevalence of obesity among the children. Thus our study showed that a school-based intervention program focused on nutritional education and physical activity program promoted waist circumference reduction and decreased obesity without affecting the height growth along with improved fitness and healthy eating behavior. This intervention program would be feasible and replicable in others schools around the country.

Teaching in the community: Changing and implementing a new curriculum

The Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu is changing to, and implementing a new curriculum aimed at integrating teaching and learning in the community. Emphasis is on preparing the community settings for teaching, learning and providing health care. A particular task is staff development with emphasis on problem-based learning (PBL) and training medical and nursing students in the leadership to participate in this process. The new curriculum includes the gradual introduction of clinical practice during First Year, integration of the basic sciences with clinical sciences, through integrated modules studied in small groups, and maintenance of the two year clerkship. The undergraduates are introduced gradually to the community: 8% of the total curriculum during First Year, 10% during Second Year, 10% during Third Year, 20% during Fourth Year, 30% during Fifth and Sixth Years. The basic health units at primary care level, and the regional specialty outpatients and hospitals at the second level, are the main teaching sites. An Education Development Committee was established to discuss the strategies for supporting the changes and to structure the planning for promoting the gradual transformation of staff development. After 18 months of implementation of the curriculum, there followed discussions and monitoring of the objectives of changes in medical education at our school. Successful implementation of the new curriculum would fail, if the objectives were not absorbed by every member of the implementation Committee.

Spirituality: Do teachers and students hold the same opinion?

Background:  Few studies have investigated potential differences between the opinions of educators and undergraduates regarding spirituality in patient care. Understanding these differences, could lead to better strategies for educational proposes. Purpose:  To compare the opinions of medical teachers (MTs) and medical students (MSs) regarding spirituality training in a Brazilian medical school. Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted. MTs and MSs filled out a questionnaire containing the Duke Religion Index, and questions regarding spirituality in clinical practice and at medical school. A comparison between early-curriculum MSs, late curriculum MSs and MTs was carried out. Chi-square (categorical) and Mann-Whitney (continuous/ordinal) tests were used. Results:  A total of 475 MSs and 44 MTs were evaluated. Results showed that MSs did not address spirituality as frequently as MTs (p<0.001), and that most participants did not feel prepared to address this issue, and believe that Brazilian medical schools are not giving all the required information in this field. Nevertheless, they believe MSs should be prepared to discuss these issues. Late-curriculum MSs believed that spirituality plays a more positive role in patient health (p=0.027), and were more prone to address this issue than early-curriculum MSs (p=0.023). Conclusion:  These findings revealed some of the challenges faced by spirituality medical training in Brazil, and differences between MTs and MSs regarding this issue. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings in other countries. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2013.

Desenvolvendo cidadãos atuantes por meio do ensino da matemática: o caso do programa PAIE do governo de Minas Gerais

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

A concepção subvertida de futuro dos jovens: a trajetória pelo ensino médio

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Proposta Curricular do Estado de São Paulo: retorno do discurso regulativo da tylerização na educação pública

This paper analyses how innovations and educational reforms affect curricular construction at public schools. It aims at reflecting if the Curricular Proposal for the state of São Paulo preserves the autonomy and identity of schools, if it respects their pedagogical political project, without attempting to homogenize them; how it changes every‐day school life, teacher’s practices, interpersonal relationships and power relations. We depart from the presupposition that this proposal adopts principles of the educational reforms started in the middle of the 90s, such as: adoption of national guidelines; introduction of market mechanisms, generating the fragility of teachers’ representation and their de‐ professionalization; relativity of the State’s role; stimuli to partnerships between public and private institutions in the fields of administration, allocation of financial resources for teaching    and implementation of external evaluating systems. At the same time, official discourse highlights decentralization, democratic administration, community participation. Some of these principles are recurrent in curriculum reforms: emphasis on the knowledge society, pedagogy of competencies and of learning to learn. In this way, we understand that the proposal aims at homogenizing school knowledge and curriculum practices, representing the notion of curriculum as product. We consider that the novelty and relevance of implemented measures demand further research, and that will be implemented by the author in 2010.

In search of the autonomous and critical individual: a philosophical and pedagogical analysis of the physical education curriculum of São Paulo (Brazil)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)