A pilot study of the use of groupwork in biology education at the Griffiths Mxenge College of Education: The Government of National Unity in 1994 introduced a new educational policy for the country. This represented a shift in paradigm from a transmission mode of teaching and learning to learner-centered education. The shift marks a transformation from a contentbased curriculum to an outcomes based education (aBE). aBE, which is underpinned by Constructivism and Social Constructivism advocates for the use of groupwork as a strategy for achieving the outcomes envisaged in our learners. The challenge facing teachers and educators is how to implement outcomes based education. The intention of this research is therefore to serve as a pilot project to find out about how groupwork may be used in teaching. It looks at types of groups, considerations a teacher should have in forming groups, dynamics which come into play during teaching and gives suggestions as to how groupwork problems may be solved. Others issued are also raised which were not fully covered in the research. It is the hope of the researcher that the project would be a basis for further research on the use of group work in teaching under outcomes based education. Towards an effective implementation of assessment of biology practical work under "curriculum 2005" Transformation taking place in education in the Republic of South Africa has implications for assessment. It involves a move away from the transmission mode of teaching and learning, to a learner-centered education with the attainment of outcomes. It is a move away from the summative mode of assessment to a formative mode, where assessment leads to the development of the learner and monitor and support teaching and learning. Questions arise as to what to assess, how, when to assess and by whom? This research project is an initial attempt to look at how this assessment policy may be implemented effectively in schools and colleges, using the teaching and learning of practical biology as a tool. It looks at examples of assessment methods that may be used to assess learners work, their functions and problems that may arise in the teachers attempt to transform hislher practices. Suggestions are made on factors to consider in implementing assessment practice and how problems, which may arise in assessment, may be overcome.

South Africa needs an economy which is competitive and successful. Therefore, it is important that an education system will provide a skilled work force. Learners need to develop biology skills that will equip them for life, enable them to solve problems and think critically. Unfortunately South Africa is presently encountering a lack of skilled citizens. The reasons for this most probably is that the biology curriculum is mainly discipline-based, content-loaded and largely irrelevant, resulting in learners not furthering their studies in biology and related fields. The biology matriculation examination has a strangle hold on what is taught. Lengthy, content-loaded curricula emphasise the memorising of facts by means of expository teaching methods, leaving little opportunity to teach the application of information and skills to solve problems in real life situations. The teaching methods of biology are thus not sufficiently stimulating and motivating. Biology teaching should not only concentrate on facts or explain facts to learners, but should also concentrate on ways or processes by means of which these facts can be obtained. To implement a process approach where learners can develop basic- and integrated skills is not an easy task for those involved. The empirical research of this study, confirmed the findings throughout the literature study that various factors hamper the effective implementation of the process approach. It is important that negative factors such as 'large classes' and 'a lengthy syllabus' (in historically disadvantaged [HD] and advantaged schools [HA]) and 'lack of equipment' and 'resource material' (only in HD schools) which received high percentages in the survey, will duly be considered when implementing the process approach, curriculum 2005 or 21. These factors can exert a powerful influence on the success of any changes in biology education. To ensure the successful implementation of the process approach it is important that all teachers receive adequate in-service training to keep abreast with new teaching strategies and methods / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)

One of the principles regarding our knowledge about life on earth is that no organism can be fully understood without taking into account its surrounding environment. This study examines the extent to which ecosystem-focused field studies may be associated with students' academic performance and potential to contribute to the advancement of science and conservation. Pilot studies conducted in Panama and California established methods used in this project from 1993-2003. Two hundred and sixty-seven students conducted field studies in either Kenya or Costa Rica. Students worked in cognitive apprenticeships, in which research staff trained each student to conduct field research. At the conclusion of their fieldwork, the research staff assessed the students written field reports. The students' reports were then sorted according to the extent to which their studies were ecosystem-focused. Data analysis through nonparametric, Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests revealed no significant difference in academic performance on field study reports, in regards to whether the studies were narrow in scope (species-specific) or broad (ecosystem-focused). Marginal significance was revealed between ecosystem-focused studies and the potential for students' fieldwork to contribute to the advancement of science and conservation. Also addressed in the data were injuries, disease, and potential hazards, which were influenced by prudent and decisive leadership. Successful field studies require consideration of the content, context, and design of the intended field projects. Many of the solutions to environmental problems on the planet will come from the working hands of teachers and students that conduct explorations in the field. / Life Sciences in Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate if teacher, pupil, curriculum and classroom environment variables were significantly related to adolescents' attitudes towards Biology. The study also investigated whether certain factors (as moderator variables) significantly influenced the relationships between pupils' attitudes towards Biology and each of the independent variables. For the investigation a sample of 426 standard eight, nine and ten pupils from three school-types completed an attitude questionnaire. Parametric statistics were used to analyse the results. Findings from the correlation and stepwise regression analysis revealed that the curriculum was the strongest correlate of attitude and accounted for most of the variance in pupils' attitudes towards Biology. An analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in pupils' attitudes towards Biology when gender, standard, parental levels of formal education and type of school were used as moderator variables. These findings suggest a complete restructuring of the Biology curriculum. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the undergraduate biology practical instructions and the level of competence of undergraduate biology students in practical laboratory skills in some Ethiopian universities using skill performance rubric and questionnaires. A sample of 208 third year students and 26 instructors and laboratory assistants from three universities were selected as sample of the study. Students reported that more than 84.2% of the laboratory activities are below the average number of laboratory activities recommended by the curriculum with no significant difference between universities. The laboratory skill performance test score was below the midpoint. None of the students could be able to estimate and determine fields of vision of a microscope. There is a significant and a positively linear relationship between the students’ grade point average (GPA) with identification of laboratory equipment, handling of microscope, setting of microscope, estimation of diameter of field of vision and measuring liquid. Laboratory skill performance test score is correlated with higher education entrance exam score but not with students’ high school laboratory back ground. There is no significant difference in instructor’s manipulative skills among universities (p ≥ 0.09) and instructors manipulative skills is neither correlated with qualification nor teaching experience (P≥0.056). The most common method of assessment instructors’ use in the laboratory is laboratory report and identification of specimen examination (46.4%) and written exam and identification of specimen examination (35.7%). The number of courses having laboratory manuals is as low as 14.3%, in the new university. Manipulating materials, measuring and using numbers, and pre lab activity were common activities, and were found in every manual and in every university. Moreover, the result also revealed that the manuals contain high percentage rate of basic science process skills (75.4%) as compared to the integrated science process skills (24.6%). Correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that students’ laboratory performance skills is significantly positively correlated with higher education entrance exam score, availability of laboratory resources and instructors experiences. Instructors’ experience has significant positive regression weights. / Life and Consumer Sciences / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Acompanha: A experimentação nas aulas de Biologia como promotora da alfabetização científica: sequência didática / O ensino de Biologia, assim como qualquer outra área de conhecimento, exige aprimoramento e criatividade constantes a fim de melhorar o aprendizado e despertar o envolvimento dos alunos. Com o declínio do interesse dos alunos pela Ciência, deve-se pensar em possibilidades que os aproximem novamente dos processos o de fazer ciências, instigando-os ao pensamento científico. Para tanto, é preciso levá-los a observar, experimentar, levantar hipóteses e interpretar resultados, correlacionando-os ao cotidiano, contextualizando o ensino e o tornando útil à vida. Tais anseios estão presentes nesta pesquisa, que objetiva a implementação de aulas experimentais, contextualizadas, que possibilitem não somente a compreensão do mundo, mas também uma formação educacional autônoma, social, tornando-os assim alunos alfabetizados cientificamente. A presente pesquisa foi realizada em um colégio estadual do Estado do Paraná, na cidade Curitiba, e envolveu alunos do Ensino Médio das 1.o, 2.o e 3.o ano. A avaliação da pesquisa pautou-se nas respostas de questões-problemas, possibilitando ao educando relacionar a prática a situações vivenciadas no dia a dia, como alimentação, doenças etc. Utilizou-se o processo quali quantitativo na observação das respostas antes e após cada aula, verificando a porcentagem e a qualidade das respostas. O resultado mostra a diferença nas respostas, pelo aumento do número de acertos e pelo aprimoramento delas, relacionando o conteúdo científico à resolução de questões inerentes ao cotidiano. Ao concluir o trabalho, observa-se que os objetivos foram atingidos, formular uma sequência didática composta por aulas experimentais e alfabetizar cientificamente por meio dessas aulas, com vistas a aprimorar o ensino de Biologia. / Biology teaching, as well as any other area of knowledge, requires improvement and constant creativity in order to improve learning and arouse the student interest. Due to the increasing lack of interest in science on the student part, we should provide new possibilities towards making them enjoy taking part in scientific processes, such as developing scientific thoughts, observing, trying, suggesting hypothesis and interpreting results correlating them to everyday facts thus contextualizing teaching and making it useful to life. The present research aims at implementing contextualized experimental classes that not only enable students to understand the world, but also provide a socially autonomous education addressed to shape students with scientific literacy. The research was implemented at a State school in Curitiba, State of Paraná in Brazil and covered middle school first, second and third grade students and its assessment was based on the problem question answers that allowed the researchers to relate practice to day-by-day situations, such as feeding, diseases etc. We used the qualitative-quantitative process to check answer percentage and quality before and after each class. The result showed answer differences concerning increased number of successes and improvement, as well as the relation between scientific contents and solution of day-by-day problems. As a conclusion, we inferred that the research objectives were met through the formulation of a didactic sequence comprising experimental classes that produced scientifically literate students thus improving biology teaching.

Acompanha: A experimentação nas aulas de Biologia como promotora da alfabetização científica: sequência didática / O ensino de Biologia, assim como qualquer outra área de conhecimento, exige aprimoramento e criatividade constantes a fim de melhorar o aprendizado e despertar o envolvimento dos alunos. Com o declínio do interesse dos alunos pela Ciência, deve-se pensar em possibilidades que os aproximem novamente dos processos o de fazer ciências, instigando-os ao pensamento científico. Para tanto, é preciso levá-los a observar, experimentar, levantar hipóteses e interpretar resultados, correlacionando-os ao cotidiano, contextualizando o ensino e o tornando útil à vida. Tais anseios estão presentes nesta pesquisa, que objetiva a implementação de aulas experimentais, contextualizadas, que possibilitem não somente a compreensão do mundo, mas também uma formação educacional autônoma, social, tornando-os assim alunos alfabetizados cientificamente. A presente pesquisa foi realizada em um colégio estadual do Estado do Paraná, na cidade Curitiba, e envolveu alunos do Ensino Médio das 1.o, 2.o e 3.o ano. A avaliação da pesquisa pautou-se nas respostas de questões-problemas, possibilitando ao educando relacionar a prática a situações vivenciadas no dia a dia, como alimentação, doenças etc. Utilizou-se o processo quali quantitativo na observação das respostas antes e após cada aula, verificando a porcentagem e a qualidade das respostas. O resultado mostra a diferença nas respostas, pelo aumento do número de acertos e pelo aprimoramento delas, relacionando o conteúdo científico à resolução de questões inerentes ao cotidiano. Ao concluir o trabalho, observa-se que os objetivos foram atingidos, formular uma sequência didática composta por aulas experimentais e alfabetizar cientificamente por meio dessas aulas, com vistas a aprimorar o ensino de Biologia. / Biology teaching, as well as any other area of knowledge, requires improvement and constant creativity in order to improve learning and arouse the student interest. Due to the increasing lack of interest in science on the student part, we should provide new possibilities towards making them enjoy taking part in scientific processes, such as developing scientific thoughts, observing, trying, suggesting hypothesis and interpreting results correlating them to everyday facts thus contextualizing teaching and making it useful to life. The present research aims at implementing contextualized experimental classes that not only enable students to understand the world, but also provide a socially autonomous education addressed to shape students with scientific literacy. The research was implemented at a State school in Curitiba, State of Paraná in Brazil and covered middle school first, second and third grade students and its assessment was based on the problem question answers that allowed the researchers to relate practice to day-by-day situations, such as feeding, diseases etc. We used the qualitative-quantitative process to check answer percentage and quality before and after each class. The result showed answer differences concerning increased number of successes and improvement, as well as the relation between scientific contents and solution of day-by-day problems. As a conclusion, we inferred that the research objectives were met through the formulation of a didactic sequence comprising experimental classes that produced scientifically literate students thus improving biology teaching.

Orientador: Eduardo Galembeck / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T16:37:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Hornink_GabrielGerber_M.pdf: 2426479 bytes, checksum: 9a5bfe6fa2498a0ea72ed5e0f0ddb21b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Existe hoje um desequilíbrio entre os avanços tecnológicos e os processos de formação para uso das tecnologias no ensino brasileiro de forma reflexiva. O presente trabalho explorou o desenvolvimento de cursos de formação continuada para uso da informática no ensino de Biologia, assim como formas de analisar este processo, desenvolvendo um programa reflexivo e participativo. Participaram dos cursos professores de escolas públicas e privadas. Foram usados de 'softwares livres' educacionais voltados ao ensino médio de Biologia dentre os quais Nutrição, Ciclo de Vida em Vegetais, Movimentos de Plantas, Estômatos e Embriologia. Os cursos foram estruturados com conteúdos e atividades em ordem progressiva de dificuldade, dentro do contexto do uso das tecnologias no ensino, mesclando atividades práticas e teóricas. Os conteúdos teóricos abordados foram: teorias de aprendizagem e taxonomias educacionais (taxonomia dos objetivos educacionais de Bloom e taxonomia SOLO) e classificação de softwares educacionais. As atividades práticas foram: avaliação, planejamento e uso de softwares educacionais e trocas de experiências vivenciadas pelos professores. Incentivou-se fortemente o desenvolvimento de atividades envolvendo tecnologia nas condições reais de trabalho dos professores, visando o exercício da autonomia no planejamento e o oferecimento de aulas, bem como o compartilhamento das experiências de cada um. Houve três grupos de trabalho, dois exploratórios e um final. Para cada grupo, antes do início das atividades, foram investigadas as situações das escolas e dos professores com relação ao uso da informática. Ao término do curso foram aplicadas uma prova discursiva e um questionário de avaliação do mesmo. Os resultados obtidos da prova discursiva e da avaliação final permitem observar que os professores passaram a se sentir melhor preparados para utilizar a informática no ensino. Também ressaltaram a importância da abordagem dos aspectos teóricos para a prática docente e a interação com os demais professores. Considero que o processo de reflexão sobre o uso de novas tecnologias deve ser contínuo, pois este curso sozinho não teve, nem deveria ter, a pretensão de resolver os problemas da informática educativa, sendo necessária uma mudança de postura e de ação do corpo docente ao longo do tempo / Abstract: There is a large gap between the advances in technology and their conscious use in the educational activities in Brazil. This work proposal is to design and offer continued education courses to stimulate the use of informatics in Biology education, evaluate the process of making teachers aware about using informatics in education, and to develop a reflexive and participative program in continued education to high school teachers. Teachers from both, public and private Brazilian nationwide high school have enrolled the courses. The teachers involved in this project had the opportunity of using and thinking about the applicability of educational free software. The software set explored in this work (Nutrition, Plant¿s Life Cycle, Movements in Plant, Stomates and Embryology) is part of the multimedia package Biology in Multimedia. The courses designs were based on the theoretical contents and practical activities concerning the use of informatics in education, the activities were gradually delivered according to the complexity of each required task. The theoretical contents discussed were the learning theories, educational taxonomys (Bloom¿s taxonomy and Solo Taxonomy) and education software classification. The practical approaches were based on evaluating, planning and using the selected software in their classes and practical experiences sharing inside the group. Discussions considering teachers¿ real work conditions and the development of activities with technology were strongly stimulated and the results obtained by each teacher were discussed with the group. The objective of these discussions was to stimulate teachers¿ autonomy in planning classes and apply their plans in their classes, integrating the use of informatics in their teaching activities. There were three work groups, two exploratory and one tail end. Before beginning the activities, each group was inquired about the schools and the teachers environment concerning the use of informatics. At the end of the course a test was applied (a final exam) as well as an investigative questionnaire. According to the teachers¿ evaluation, they felt great improvement in their capabilities to use informatics resources in their teaching activities. They also had stressed the importance of the theoretical aspects of the teaching practices and the interaction with other teachers. The critical thinking process about the use of new technologies must be continuously improved. This course did not have nor must it have the intention to be the solution for the problems of educative informatics. What is important in fact is to effectively stimulate the change in teachers¿ behavior and practice throughout the time / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Orientador: Mariley Simões Floria Gouveia / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T13:54:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucena_AlessandraRodriguesGarciade_M.pdf: 655322 bytes, checksum: 1e1876af15c51ce7f813caa16b9cf59c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo promover a reflexação sobre práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas pela autora ao longo de sua carreira no magistério público com o intuito de identificar e discutir sobre as possibilidades de formação continuada no espaço escolar. Para isso, foi feita uma análise dos elementos que constituem o processo educativo, os quais estão presentes em seu cotidiano, tais como: planejamento, conteúdo, relação professor e aluno, procedimentos metodológicos e avaliação a fim de verificar se houve alterações e se estas influenciaram o trabalho pedagógico promovendo avanços em sua formação continuada. Para auxiliar a análise dos dados, a autora apoiou-se nos seguintes autores: Freire, Martins, Freitas, Fisher e Gouveia. Após a análise dos dados da presente pesquisa, verifiquei que o processo de agir, refletir, planejar, agir novamente, problematizar a prática social, vinculado a minha participação no programa de pós-graduação, possibilitou a compreensção do cotidiano escolar, facilitando a construção de novas propostas de trabalho e, estas ações, foram fazendo parte da minha formação contínua, promovendo um aprender constante / Abstract: The aim of this work is to promote the reflection on pratical pedagogical developed by the autor throughout is career in the public teaching with intention to identify and to argue on the possibilities of continued formation in a school atmosphere. For this, an analysis of the elements was made that constitute the educative process, such as: methodological planning, content, relation teacher and pupil, procedures and evaluation in order to verify if had alterations and if these had influenced the pedagogical work promotiong advances in its continued formation. For this analyse the author got a support in the studies of Freire, Martins, Freitas, Fischer and Gouveia. After the date analyses of the present survev it was verified that the process of doing it, reflecting, planning, making it again, overview the social practice together with this participating in the post-graduation program helped to comprehend the dailv school atmosphere, making it easy to construct new working proposals and this acting make part of my own continued formation promoting a constant learning / Mestrado / Ensino, Avaliação e Formação de Professores / Mestre em Educação

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise de aspectos da aprendizagem presentes nas conversas de visitantes adultos em uma exposição de zoologia. Adotamos a perspectiva sociocultural de aprendizagem e desenvolvimento de Vigotski (2009), segundo a qual o uso da linguagem é entendido como forma de compartilhar e desenvolver conhecimentos conjuntamente, mas também como ferramenta que orienta os processos psicológicos internos do indivíduo. Nesse sentido exploramos o processo cognitivo de percepção verbalizada, ou seja, mediada pela linguagem (VIGOTSKI, 2009; LURIA, 1970), além da aprendizagem colaborativa entre pares (MERCER, 2000). Nosso objetivo foi analisar como a linguagem verbalizada é utilizada na interação para qualificar e ampliar as percepções sobre os elementos da exposição e para construir significados conjuntamente sobre os objetos e conteúdos apresentados. Para isso, buscamos caracterizar as conversas dos sujeitos ao longo da exposição por meio da análise das operações epistêmicas realizadas na fala e também das formas de interação como caracterizadas por Mercer (2000) (conversas acumulativas, disputativas e exploratórias). As operações epistêmicas foram organizadas em três grupos: operações dirigidas pela percepção; operações de conexão com conhecimentos e experiências; e operações de maior elaboração conceitual. Nossos sujeitos foram adultos, integrantes do ensino médio na modalidade Educação de Jovens e Adultos, visitando em duplas a exposição Fauna da América do Sul, que é centrada na apresentação de animais preservados e dioramas de ambientes naturais, do Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, em agosto de 2011. Observou-se que a maior parte das conversas se desenvolveu de forma colaborativa para aprendizagem, em geral com construção positiva, mas não crítica, dos parceiros sobre as falas uns dos outros (conversas acumulativas), sendo raras as conversas centradas na argumentação de pontos divergentes (exploratórias). Durante as visitas as conversas foram majoritariamente centradas em elementos da exposição, indicando a atratividade dos objetos. Por meio das operações epistêmicas de Nomeação, Apontamento, Afetividade e Caracterização os sujeitos direcionaram a atenção dos parceiros, qualificaram e compartilharam percepções, atuando na construção conjunta de significados para os objetos; dentre essas se ressalta a importância da Nomeação dos objetos para os visitantes, que promoveu em algumas ocasiões discussões e um engajamento mais profundo na exposição. Também observamos, porém com menor ocorrência, as operações de Conexão com o conhecimento, Suposição e Explicação que indicavam conversas de maior elaboração conceitual. Ressalta-se, entretanto, que as conversas mais elaboradas em geral apresentaram maior articulação das operações epistêmicas, incluindo sobreposições, como por exemplo, no caso de Explicações constituídas por Conexões com o conhecimento ou Caracterizações, o que indica a importância das operações dirigidas pela percepção para as operações mais elaboradas conceitualmente. Os questionamentos também apresentaram papel relevante na promoção de operações epistêmicas. As conversas mais elaboradas foram desenvolvidas tanto em função da percepção dos objetos, como por demandas da própria conversa, apontando a relevância da experiência concreta com os objetos e dos aspectos da interação social para a aprendizagem. Esperamos que este estudo contribua para a compreensão do papel educativo de exposições, e para a compreensão de como visitantes adultos compartilham percepções, negociam e constroem significados relacionados aos conhecimentos e objetos musealizados. / This study presents an analysis of aspects of learning through the conversations of adult visitors at an exhibition of zoology. We adopt the sociocultural perspective of learning and development of Vygotsky (2009), according to which the use of language is understood as a way to share and develop knowledge together, but also as a tool that guides the internal psychological processes of the individual. Accordingly, we explore the cognitive process of perception verbalized, i.e., mediated by language (Vygotsky, 2009; LURIA, 1970), and the collaborative learning among peers (Mercer, 2000). Our goal was to analyze how language is used in the voiced interaction to qualify and expand perceptions of the elements of the exhibition and to jointly construct meaning about objects and contents. For this, we seek to characterize the conversations of the subjects throughout the exhibition, through the analysis of epistemic operations performed in speech and also the forms of interaction as characterized by Mercer (2000) (cumulative, disputational and exploratory talk). Epistemic operations were organized into three groups: operations guided by perception; operations connecting to knowledge and experiences; and operations of greater conceptual elaboration. Our subjects were adults, members of school in the modality of Youth and Adult Education, visiting in pairs the exhibition Fauna of South America, which was focused on the presentation of preserved animals and habitat dioramas, at the Museum of Zoology, University of São Paulo, in August 2011. It was observed that most of the conversations developed collaboratively to learning, often with partners building positively, but uncritically, on what the other has said (cumulative talk), being rare conversations centered in arguing divergent points (exploratory talk). During the visits, the conversations were mostly focused on elements of the display, indicating the attractiveness of objects. Through the epistemic operations of Naming, Pointing, Affectivity and Characterization subjects directed the attention of partners, qualified and shared perceptions, acting on the joint construction of meanings about objects. Among these stands out the importance of Naming objects for visitors, that has promoted discussions on some occasions and deeper engagement in the exhibition. We also observed, but with lower occurrence, the operations of Knowledge-connection, Supposition and Explanation, which indicated talks with greater conceptual elaboration. It is noteworthy, however, that more elaborated conversations generally showed greater articulation of epistemic operations, including overlapping, such as in the case of Explanations constituted by Knowledge- connections or Characterizations, which indicates the importance of operations guided by perception for operations of greater conceptual elaboration. Questions also had an important role in promoting epistemic operations. Operations of greater conceptual elaboration were developed as both a function of the perception of objects as per demands of conversation itself, indicating the relevance of concrete experience with objects and aspects of social interaction for learning. We hope that this study may contribute to understanding the role of educational exhibits, and to understanding how adult visitors share perceptions, negotiate and construct meanings related to musealized knowledge and objects.