Atividades experimentais no ensino de biologia em escolas públicas do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil: caracterização geral e concepção de professores

Recent research has revealed that the majority of Biology teachers believe the practice of experimental activities as a didactical means would be the solution for the improvement of the Biology teaching-learning process. There are, however, studies which signal the lack of efficiency in such practice lessons as far as building scientific knowledge is concerned. It is also said that despite the enthusiasm on the teachers‟ part, such classes are rarely taught in high school. Several studies point pedagogical difficulties as well as nonexistence of a minimal infrastructure needed in laboratories as cause of low frequency in experimental activities. The poor teacher performance in terms of planning and development of classes; the large number of students per class; lack of financial stimulus for teachers are other reasons to be taken into account among others, in which can also be included difficulties of epistemological nature. That means an unfavorable eye of the teacher towards experimental activities. Our study aimed to clarify if such scenario is generalized in high schools throughout the state of Rio Grande do Norte Brazil. During our investigation a sample of twenty teaching institutions were used. They were divided in two groups: in the first group, five IFRN- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte schools. Two of those in Natal, and the other three from the country side. The second group is represented by fifteen state schools belonging to the Natal metropolitan area. The objectives of the research were to label schools concerning laboratory facilities; to identify difficulties pointed by teachers when performing experiment classes, and to become familiar with the conceptions of the teachers in regarding biology experiment classes. To perform such task, a questionnaire was used as instrument of data collecting. It contained multiple choice, essay questions and a semi-structured interview with the assistance of a voice recorder. The data analysis and the in loco observation allowed the conclusion that the federal schools do present better facilities for the practice of experimental activities when compared to state schools. Another aspect pointed is the fact that teachers of federal schools have more time available for planning the experiments; they are also better paid and are given access a career development, which leads to better salaries. All those advantages however, do not show a significantly higher frequency regarding the development of experiments when compared to state school teachers. Both teachers of federal and state schools pointed infra-structure problems such as the availability of reactants, equipments and consumption supplies as main obstacle to the practice of experiments in biology classes. Such fact leads us to conclude that maybe there are other problems not covered by the questionnaire such as poor ability to plan and execute experimental activities. As far as conceptions about experimental activities, it was verified in the majority of the interviewees a inductive-empiric point of view of science possibly inherited during their academic formation and such point of view reflected on the way they plan and execute experiments with students

A construção de sentidos na avaliação de múltipla escolha do SARESP

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

Análise do perfil socioeconômico e profissional de manipuladores de alimentos participantes de um programa de capacitação em boas práticas de fabricação, no município de Araraquara, SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O uso de jogos de empresas no ensino superior: um estudo sobre a prática docente

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O papel da ginástica terapêutica chinesa Lian Gong em 18 terapias no comportamento psicomotor e cotidiano de praticantes adultos

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

O Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (IDEB): um estudo do município de Santa Fé do Sul (SP)

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

As diretrizes curriculares: o verso e o anverso da formação profissional em Serviço Social

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS

Atividade epilinguística em sala de aula: as interpretações naturais feitas pelos alunos

Pós-graduação em Linguística e Língua Portuguesa - FCLAR

A linguagem escrita na perspectiva de educadores: subsídios para propostas de assessoria fonoaudiológica escolar

PURPOSE: to describe a proposal that may contribute to the development of actions promoting health to back Speech therapists performance in school, based on educators' investigation on conceptions about the written language development process. METHOD: descriptive study performed through application of questionnaires in nineteen elementary school teachers in three public schools in a city in the State of Parana. The questionnaires contained questions on the development of written language, factors that favor and/or hinder this process. Data analysis was carried out through transcription of discursive replies and quantification of multiple-choice answers. From the content submitted in the replies, it was possible to create subject areas to be discussed. RESULTS: seven reports (35%) showing that the development process of written language starts at school were recorded; contact with writing was quoted twelve times (30%) as support for the development of written language; individual aspects were reported sixteen times (38%) as causes for learning difficulties; and there were twelve reports (39%) on forwarding to other professionals as a solution for such difficulties. CONCLUSION: educators have lack of fundamental knowledge for their educational practice regarding the literacy process, although most have training being consistent with what is advocated by LDB. It is not possible to generalize this conclusion, due to the small sized study sample.

Dificuldades e/ou problemas de aprendizagem: concepções e práticas docentes

It is known that some children fail to learn in school and among them are those that present difficulties and / or learning problems. At this difficulty and / or problems are attributed to various causes neurological problems, environmental or both. The areas most likely to be affected are: reading, writing and mathematics. This situation happens frequently in the daily life of schools and teachers should be prepared to work with diversity and enable the development of all, this includes having this particular part of the school population has a significant learning and an appropriate social relationship. It is therefore aim of this study, to investigate the conceptions of teachers in relation to the theme and possible practices of those in public elementary schools in Bauru city, a medium-sized city in the state of Sao Paulo, with those children who can not learn. Because it is a fact that often occurs in schools, it is necessary to investigate how teachers are working with these students since the school should ensure quality education for all and pedagogical efficiency. To obtain the data we used a questionnaire with multiple choice and essay questions, this tool was applied to a municipal school. It was noted that there is confusion between the terms learning difficulties and problems which affect the performance of teachers with these students and the working conditions of educators hinder their practices

Concepções de professores dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental sobre o trabalho com mapas conceituais

This study aims to investigate the design of elementary school teachers on the use of concept maps as way to organize, assess and facilitate student learning and see how many use them in their practice. For the study, literature search were made, seeking theoretical and methodological and descriptive field research with a questionnaire to teachers from six public schools of the early years of elementary school in the city of Bauru, closed questions with multiple choice to gather information about teacher’s knowledge about the subject.

Computer game-based and traditional learning method: a comparison regarding students’ knowledge retention

Abstract Background Educational computer games are examples of computer-assisted learning objects, representing an educational strategy of growing interest. Given the changes in the digital world over the last decades, students of the current generation expect technology to be used in advancing their learning requiring a need to change traditional passive learning methodologies to an active multisensory experimental learning methodology. The objective of this study was to compare a computer game-based learning method with a traditional learning method, regarding learning gains and knowledge retention, as means of teaching head and neck Anatomy and Physiology to Speech-Language and Hearing pathology undergraduate students. Methods Students were randomized to participate to one of the learning methods and the data analyst was blinded to which method of learning the students had received. Students’ prior knowledge (i.e. before undergoing the learning method), short-term knowledge retention and long-term knowledge retention (i.e. six months after undergoing the learning method) were assessed with a multiple choice questionnaire. Students’ performance was compared considering the three moments of assessment for both for the mean total score and for separated mean scores for Anatomy questions and for Physiology questions. Results Students that received the game-based method performed better in the pos-test assessment only when considering the Anatomy questions section. Students that received the traditional lecture performed better in both post-test and long-term post-test when considering the Anatomy and Physiology questions. Conclusions The game-based learning method is comparable to the traditional learning method in general and in short-term gains, while the traditional lecture still seems to be more effective to improve students’ short and long-term knowledge retention.

Generating multiple random exams using mathematica package and LATEX

[EN]In the framework of the European Higher Education Area, the assessment has been one of the most important aspects considered. In the Spanish Universities, one of the main differences with regard to the previous system is the incorporation of the continuous assessment to the evaluation process that is understood in several ways depending on the Universities, the courses and the lecturers. Focus on our context, a course of Mathematics of the first academic year in the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), the continuous assessment has brought the preparation of a large amount of different tests to evaluate the students enrolled in it, therefore the incorporation of new tools and skills in order to make the teaching–learning process easier and more dynamic has become a need mainly in those degrees with a large number of students as the case we consider here. In this work we provide an efficient and effective way to elaborate random multiple-choice examina tion tests (although essay exams are also possible) by using Mathematica package and LATEXin order to make easier to the lectures the preparation of a large number of mid-term tests for a large number of students.

Conoscenza e consapevolezza sugli effetti biologici degli ultrasuoni nella pratica clinica in Italia: risultati di una inchiesta con questionario tra ecografisti della socetà italiana di ultrasonologia in medicina e biologia (S.I.U.M.B.)

Background New potential hazards in the use of ultrasound (US) are implied in new diagnostic applications of US, such as contrast enhanced US. Aim To assess the level of awareness and knowledge on safety issues of clinical use of US among physicians who are members of the Italian National Society for Ultrasound (SIUMB) Materials and methods A questionnaire including 11 multiple choice quiz was sent by e-mail to members of SIUMB, who preliminarly agreed to participate in this initiative. The answers were received anonimously and statistically analyzed. Results The number of returned valid questionnaires was 97 (8 were considered not valid for less than 10 answers filled). Mean age of the responders was 44 years old, and the average time the physician has been performing ultrasound examinations was 13 years. The principal workplace (70%) was a public Hospital. Physicians seemed to know the general definitions of principal safety-parameters, but few of them knew the definition of specific indexes. There was a general knowledge about the safe use of ultrasound in obstetrics, but there was a poor knowledge of biological effects of US: only about 37% answered correctly to questions about damage of vasculature of lung by high Mechanical Index US investigation and about the increase of temperature under the probe, according to the thermal indexes. Conclusion In conclusion the present findings indicate that greater efforts of National Ultrasound Societies are warranted in disseminating knowledge about the bio-effects of diagnostic ultrasound modalities among their members to prevent possible hazards.

The new licencing examination for human medicine: from concept to implementation

A new Swiss federal licencing examination for human medicine (FLE) was developed and released in 2011. This paper describes the process from concept design to the first results obtained on implementation of the new examination. The development process was based on the Federal Act on University Medical Professions and involved all national stakeholders in this venture. During this process questions relating to the assessment aims, the assessment formats, the assessment dimensions, the examination content and necessary trade-offs were clarified. The aims were to create a feasible, fair, valid and psychometrically sound examination in accordance with international standards, thereby indicating the expected knowledge and skills level at the end of undergraduate medical education. Finally, a centrally managed and locally administered examination comprising a written multiple-choice element and a practical “clinical skills” test in the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) format was developed. The first two administrations of the new FLE show that the examination concept could be implemented as intended. The anticipated psychometric indices were achieved and the results support the validity of the examination. Possible changes to the format or content in the future are discussed.