Pesquisas acadêmicas no ensino básico : contribuições para as práticas dos professores de ciências e biologia

Abstract

The first stage of this study aimed to verify what has been produced on the Science and Biology teaching in basic education in the municipality of São Mateus, North of Espírito Santo. A survey of academic research from January/2010 to July/2016 indicated that the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Course and the Graduate Program in Teaching in Basic Education of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Campus São Mateus, carried out 102 academic researches, with significant contribution of activities by the Institutional Program for Scholarships for Initiation in Teaching (PIBID) of the Biological Sciences Course. In the analysis of the descriptor "Privileged areas" it was possible to verify that most of the researches approached 'Cross-cutting themes' and 'Science/Technology/Society/Environment'. Considering the works in specific areas, 'Botany' were the most developed. In the analysis of the thematic focuses, the two most prominent focuses were 'Content-Method' and 'Didactic Resources'. The second stage of the study had the objective of analyzing the contributions of academic research carried out in basic education to the practices of Science and Biology teachers. Unstructured interviews were conducted with ten teachers from the public and private schools of the municipality. In general, teachers seek and take advantage of the knowledge acquired through academic research, either for the acquisition of knowledge, as support in the classroom or for the constant need for updating, making evident their contribution to their continued education, as well as assisting in the enrichment of their classes. Most respondents reported doing research, and some teachers have results presented at scientific meetings and published in scientific journals. However, the work revealed that there is a need for greater preparation of the future teacher for the practice of research in undergraduate courses. It was possible to verify a growing cooperation between the schools of the municipality and UFES, mainly through PIBID. However, although there is still a gap between these two educational institutions, there has been a greater approximation in recent years, in which postgraduate programs were cited as an important factor for this approach. Regarding the importance of academic research, teachers emphasize that it should happen in the perspective of partnership with basic education and highlight the need for greater preparation for social commitment in universities.