Achievements

Analysis of the teacher's opinion in previous courses shows a shift in the attitude of the teacher towards the course and how it influenced the way teaching is seen. Interesting is the complete inversion of attitude towards the need to share experiences with researchers, immensely valued after the experience on the course. The possibility that this idea of interaction with scientists may be assimilated as a good practice in the way the science teaching should be developed in schools is an optimistic indicator. This is one of our objectives on the course.

One of the main goals of this course is to strongly motivate teachers to adopt and implement experimental science teaching in their schools. Experimental and laboratory classes were, however, referred by teachers as difficult to implement in schools not by lack of motivation but by reasons like school conditions (lack of equipment and laboratories), high number of students in classes and tight curricula. Nevertheless, teachers conveyed the idea that they thought that the proposed activities were relevant and amenable to perform in the school.

In fact, curricula are not oriented to practical classes and the school system does not favor these either which puts an extra burden in teachers that want to perform these activities.

This aspect must be taken not as a failure of this goal of the course but a challenge to future courses: the idea is not only provide tools and ideas to teach practical classes but to promote a new attitude, a new understanding of the activity of teaching science that can be widespread and a seed of changing.

Other goal that should be stressed is the creation of links between teachers and laboratories and Universities. Teachers know that they can continue to obtain support from these institutions in the future. Our institutions are applying for financing to obtain a bank of equipment that could be lent to schools.

Teachers considered that personal enrichment was attained – better understanding of relevant scientific issues, contact with real laboratories and tools of construction of scientific knowledge and research teams was considered as providing solid basis to discuss scientific matters and motivate their students.

The way activities in the course is structured, the teachers being organized in groups that performed different activities, was positive since by this way they have to exchange ideas and experiences in a final meeting were each group presented their work to the others.

 

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