Situações-problema : uma estratégia didática para o ensino de ciências no nível fundamental

Abstract

In this work, we investigated how science teachers conceive an approach focused in using problem situations (PS) and how this teaching strategy can assist the teaching-learning process. Throughout the intervention, we conducted a workshop for continuing education on the subject, aiming to help teachers toward a better understanding of what PS is, how to use it in their classes, how to evaluate students when using this teaching strategy and also for the purpose of assisting the teacher when drawing up the PS. Data were collected from the analysis of observations made during the workshop on continuing education, in addition to questionnaires and conducting semi-structured interviews. Eight science teachers who teach in the ninth year public educational system elementary school in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, participated in the survey. The methodology involved the following stages: identification of teachers' conceptions about PS using questionnaire as research tool; carrying out the continuing education workshop and formulation of a PS by teachers; a questionnaire to evaluate the workshop and finally a semi-structured interview with teachers. The different activities have allowed teachers to reflect and better understand the use of PS as a teaching strategy, as well as some theoretical issues that underlie its use, and has allowed to experience and discuss a methodology of teaching using PS around a given theme in order to build new PS and make them characteristic of the teaching profession. The workshop on continued education and formulation by teachers of two PS under the conditions suggested by the work method showed teachers already acquired different conceptions of those they had before in regard to the approach, and they would use it in their classes, recommending it to other teachers, what demonstrates the effectiveness of this teaching strategy, as the results indicate. The results also show us new possibilities addition to this research, such as providing for a greater number of teachers continuing education, which are offered in a larger time frame support, not only to understand what is an SP and develop, but also to accompany them during the application process such SP, helping them in times of difficulties not to abandon this teaching strategy in the first issue that arises. Other contexts can be investigated using problem situations, both for the construction of concepts, working directly with students or teachers with new formations. In the steps that can be revised and reformulated as the audience that will work.