Abordando o conceito de isomeria por meio de situações-problema no ensino superior de química

Abstract

This work tried to investigate how the didactic strategy of problem-situation solving can assist the learning of the concept of isomerism in college, more specifically in Chemistry Undergraduate level at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). To this end, two problem-situations, whose thematic were closely related to the concept of isomerism, were elaborated based on Meirieu’s propositions (1998). The first one discussed the historical aspects of the discovery of the chemical phenomena, and the second talked about a medicinal application of isomeric compounds. During the intervention, a text produced on the aforementioned work and commercial molecular models were used as didactic materials aiming to assist students on problem solving problem-situations. Data collection was done using, among other instruments, printed questionnaire and semi-structured interview, recorded in audio. The resolution of problem-situations by the conditions suggested on students participating in the search - material indicated, working in groups and interacting with the teacher-researcher - contribute significantly to the understanding of the concept of isomerism and its features, such as historical context (discussed in the first problemsituation) and the application of these compounds (the second problem-situation), as shown by the data obtained after adequately analyzed.