In this study, we tested the performance of ChatGPT-4 on the concept inventory Brief Electricity and Magnetism Assessment (BEMA) to understand its potential as an educational tool in physics, especially in tasks requiring visual interpretation. Our results indicate that ChatGPT-4 performs similarly to undergraduate students in introductory electromagnetism courses, with an average score close to that of the students. However, ChatGPT-4 displayed significant differences compared to students, particularly in tasks involving complex visual elements such as electrical circuits and magnetic field diagrams. While ChatGPT-4 was proficient in proposing correct physical reasoning, it struggled with accurately interpreting visual information. These findings suggest that while ChatGPT-4 can be a useful supplementary tool for students, it should not be relied upon as a primary tutor for subjects heavily dependent on visual interpretation. Instead, it could be more effective as a peer, where its outputs are critically evaluated by students. Further research should focus on improving ChatGPT’s visual processing capabilities and exploring its role in diverse educational contexts.

Student performance in Mathematics and Science education is a source of concern for education authorities in South Africa. This was supported by the latest TIMSS results which were released in December 2004. As in the previous studies, TIMSS and TIMSS-R, South African learners were again outperformed by the learners of all other participating countries (Reddy, 2004). To ensure learner achievement in mathematics and science, we need committed, qualified and experienced teachers in these subjects. In this study a holistic professional development (HPD) model was constructed, tested and evaluated using practicing Grade 10 - 12 teachers. The model developed teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes simultaneously. After analysis of the model we found that improving teachers' content knowledge builds their confidence in teaching their subject. This in turn motivates teachers to perform better in their jobs: they come to class better prepared, eager to do a job they know they are good at, no more coming late, no more plodding through uninspiring one-way lessons. They are turned into better professionals with a positive work ethic. Their improved classroom practices lead to higher enrolments of science learners and improved learner achievement, the crown of successful science teaching. The HPD model was developed in three phases. In the first phase baseline information was obtained to determine problems that exist with the teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes. After data analysis it was found that all three of these dimensions needed development. In the second phase the initial development of the HPD model took place. An intervention programme was structured and the effect of the programme on the teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes were analysed. Successful elements of the initial model were extracted and developed further, in addition new elements were added. In the third phase the HPD model was developed further. Analysis of the data showed the following effect on the teachers: they were extricated from a vicious cycle where poor content knowledge leads to lack of confidence which caused unwillingness to spend time on task (poor professional attitudes, ineffective teaching approaches). Instead they became part of a virtuous circle where improved content knowledge leads to increased confidence, enjoyment and a willingness to spend more time on task (better professional attitudes and effective teaching approaches). The HPD model was evaluated using international benchmarks, such as the Standards for Professional Development of the National Research Council of New York, USA. Recommendations and possibilities for future research are discussed. / Mathematical Sciences / D.Phil.(Mathematics, Science and Technology Education - Physics Education)

A física é uma ciência altamente matematizada, tendo seus conceitos e métodos profundamente influenciados pelo pensamento matemático. Apesar disso, em contextos de ensino, o papel da matemática na física tende a se resumir ao de uma ferramenta para a descrição e operacionalização de grandezas, fazendo com que os estudantes não percebam o caráter estruturante do formalismo matemático para a constituição teórica da física. Assim, é fundamental dedicar um esforço sistemático de pesquisa para investigar estratégias que visem a apropriação dessa maneira matemática de conceber o mundo físico pelos estudantes. Apesar da existência de um número razoável de pesquisas que identificam as principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelos estudantes para a compreensão do significado de equações e utilização da matemática para a resolução de problemas de física, esse tema tem sido pouco investigado sob a ótica do ensino. Dessa forma, este trabalho objetiva contribuir para tal esforço por meio da realização de um estudo de caso em aulas de relatividade e eletromagnetismo, ministradas por um professor experiente e diferenciado em nível superior. A análise das aulas com auxílio do software videograph, juntamente com estudos históricos e epistemológicos, nos conduz à proposição de uma ferramenta teórica composta por oito categorias de análise, a qual se destina a descrever e avaliar abordagens didáticas em relação à ênfase em múltiplos aspectos da imbricada inter-relação entre física e matemática em contextos de ensino. Essa ferramenta é utilizada na análise de 19 episódios de ensino extraídos da gravação do curso de eletromagnetismo ministrado pelo professor do estudo de caso. Sua abordagem focada na estruturação matemática de conceitos físicos, na interpretação física de expressões matemáticas, no incentivo constante à metacognição, entre outros aspectos, nos permite apontar critérios associados à qualidade didática das aulas analisadas, os quais são posteriormente justificados pelo próprio professor em entrevistas semiestruturadas. Dentre as perspectivas deste trabalho, estão a possibilidade de utilizar a ferramenta de análise para realizar estudos comparativos entre aulas ministradas por diferentes professores sobre o mesmo tema, avaliar concepções diversas sobre o papel da matemática presentes em materiais didáticos, bem como a utilização de tais análises como recurso didático-pedagógico para a formação de professores de física e matemática. / Physics is a highly mathematized science, so that its concepts and methods are profoundly influenced by the mathematical thinking. Nevertheless, in the context of physics education, mathematics tends to be seen as a mere tool to describe and operate physical quantities, preventing students from understanding the structural role of the mathematical formalism for the development of physical theories. Thus, it is essential to devote a systematic research effort to investigate how to enable students to reason mathematically about the physical world. Despite the existence of several studies that identify the main difficulties faced by students to understand the meaning of physics equations and to use mathematics to solve physics problems, this topic has not been sufficiently investigated from the perspective of instruction. Aiming at contributing to this effort, this work conducts a case study in relativity and electromagnetism lectures, which were taught by an experienced and distinguished professor. The analysis of these lectures with the software videograph, along with historical and epistemological studies, led us to proposing a theoretical framework with eight categories, which is intended to describe and evaluate teaching approaches regarding the emphasis on the multiple aspects of the relationship between physics and mathematics. This framework is used in the analysis of 19 teaching episodes extracted from the recordings of the electromagnetism course given by the case study professor. His approach focused on constructing mathematical representations of physical concepts, physically interpreting mathematical expressions, encouraging metacognition, among others. This allowed us to identify several criteria related to the didactical quality of the lectures analyzed. These criteria are later justified by the professor in semi-structured interviews. The use of this analytical tool to conduct comparative studies between different lecturers/teachers, to evaluate different conceptions about the role of mathematics in physics textbooks and as a didactic resource for teacher education, are some of the future perspectives of this research.

A física é uma ciência altamente matematizada, tendo seus conceitos e métodos profundamente influenciados pelo pensamento matemático. Apesar disso, em contextos de ensino, o papel da matemática na física tende a se resumir ao de uma ferramenta para a descrição e operacionalização de grandezas, fazendo com que os estudantes não percebam o caráter estruturante do formalismo matemático para a constituição teórica da física. Assim, é fundamental dedicar um esforço sistemático de pesquisa para investigar estratégias que visem a apropriação dessa maneira matemática de conceber o mundo físico pelos estudantes. Apesar da existência de um número razoável de pesquisas que identificam as principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelos estudantes para a compreensão do significado de equações e utilização da matemática para a resolução de problemas de física, esse tema tem sido pouco investigado sob a ótica do ensino. Dessa forma, este trabalho objetiva contribuir para tal esforço por meio da realização de um estudo de caso em aulas de relatividade e eletromagnetismo, ministradas por um professor experiente e diferenciado em nível superior. A análise das aulas com auxílio do software videograph, juntamente com estudos históricos e epistemológicos, nos conduz à proposição de uma ferramenta teórica composta por oito categorias de análise, a qual se destina a descrever e avaliar abordagens didáticas em relação à ênfase em múltiplos aspectos da imbricada inter-relação entre física e matemática em contextos de ensino. Essa ferramenta é utilizada na análise de 19 episódios de ensino extraídos da gravação do curso de eletromagnetismo ministrado pelo professor do estudo de caso. Sua abordagem focada na estruturação matemática de conceitos físicos, na interpretação física de expressões matemáticas, no incentivo constante à metacognição, entre outros aspectos, nos permite apontar critérios associados à qualidade didática das aulas analisadas, os quais são posteriormente justificados pelo próprio professor em entrevistas semiestruturadas. Dentre as perspectivas deste trabalho, estão a possibilidade de utilizar a ferramenta de análise para realizar estudos comparativos entre aulas ministradas por diferentes professores sobre o mesmo tema, avaliar concepções diversas sobre o papel da matemática presentes em materiais didáticos, bem como a utilização de tais análises como recurso didático-pedagógico para a formação de professores de física e matemática. / Physics is a highly mathematized science, so that its concepts and methods are profoundly influenced by the mathematical thinking. Nevertheless, in the context of physics education, mathematics tends to be seen as a mere tool to describe and operate physical quantities, preventing students from understanding the structural role of the mathematical formalism for the development of physical theories. Thus, it is essential to devote a systematic research effort to investigate how to enable students to reason mathematically about the physical world. Despite the existence of several studies that identify the main difficulties faced by students to understand the meaning of physics equations and to use mathematics to solve physics problems, this topic has not been sufficiently investigated from the perspective of instruction. Aiming at contributing to this effort, this work conducts a case study in relativity and electromagnetism lectures, which were taught by an experienced and distinguished professor. The analysis of these lectures with the software videograph, along with historical and epistemological studies, led us to proposing a theoretical framework with eight categories, which is intended to describe and evaluate teaching approaches regarding the emphasis on the multiple aspects of the relationship between physics and mathematics. This framework is used in the analysis of 19 teaching episodes extracted from the recordings of the electromagnetism course given by the case study professor. His approach focused on constructing mathematical representations of physical concepts, physically interpreting mathematical expressions, encouraging metacognition, among others. This allowed us to identify several criteria related to the didactical quality of the lectures analyzed. These criteria are later justified by the professor in semi-structured interviews. The use of this analytical tool to conduct comparative studies between different lecturers/teachers, to evaluate different conceptions about the role of mathematics in physics textbooks and as a didactic resource for teacher education, are some of the future perspectives of this research.

This thesis investigates how students in upper secondary school solve problems and discuss physics in small groups. The study examines how gender, knowledge in physics and the image of the subject physics are constructed in the students’ conversation and how these processes are related to each other. The theoretical framework includes a sociocultural perspective on learning and a gender perspective that views gender as both process and discourse and focus on how femininity and masculinity are constructed in social relations. 28 students in two classes at the science program participated in the study. 8 videotaped group discussions and 15 audiotaped interviews where analysed through thematic analysis and discourse analysis according to different research questions. The results show the complexity of a learning conversation. The character of the dialogue in the groups, the difficulties the student encounter when dealing with the tasks, and the social interaction in the groups, has a deep impact on the possibilities to develop the discussion about physics phenomena and concepts. The images of the subject physics and the images of a student skilled in physic that are constructed in the interviews are reconstructed in the students’ discussions and in their acting in the groups. But there are also inconsistencies and counter discourses. The possibilities for learning are related to the construction of gender and to equality issues within the groups. Traditional gendered positions are to a large extent reconstructed in the students’ interaction. Boys are for instance positioned as more competent in physics than girls. But traditional gendered positions are also resisted and challenged.

Ce travail s'intéresse aux connaissances professionnelles des enseignants mises en œuvre lors d'un enseignement. Nous les avons étudiées à partir de l'action de l'enseignant dans sa classe. Notre approche théorique articule les connaissances pédagogiques liées au contenu (pedagogical content knowledge), à la théorie de l'action conjointe ainsi qu'à la théorie de l'activité. Un de nos principaux résultats est la mise au point d'une méthode d'analyse de données vidéo permettant de reconstruire, à partir de l'action, les connaissances professionnelles mises en œuvre par l'enseignant lorsque celui-ci répond à une question d'élève. Cette méthode articule deux niveaux d'analyse : le premier repose sur l'utilisation de mots clés permettant de caractériser la situation ainsi que le contexte. Cette caractérisation participe à un processus d'inférence des connaissances de l'enseignant. Le deuxième niveau d'analyse permet, en s'appuyant sur l'utilisation de l'analyse statistique implicative, de dégager des comportements récurrents en fonction de la situation ou du contexte. De ces liens entre comportements et caractéristiques de la situation et du contexte, nous montrons qu'il est possible de reconstruire des connaissances professionnelles mises en œuvre.Cette méthode d'analyse nous a permis de faire le portrait des connaissances professionnelles mises en œuvre lors d'un enseignement de chimie en Terminale S. Nous avons ainsi constaté que l'enseignante au cœur de notre étude de cas, lorsqu'elle répondait à des questions d'élèves, mettait en œuvre une grande variété de connaissances qui dépendent à la fois de la situation et du contexte.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between some of selected affective characteristics of high school students related to physics lesson and their physics achievement in electricity concept. These affective characteristics of the students includes their interest in physics, importance of physics, enjoyment of extra-curricular activities related to physics, physics course anxiety, physics test anxiety, achievement motivation in physics, student motivation in physics, self-efficacy in physics and self-concept in physics. Two causal models explaining the direction of the relationship between these affective characteristics and physics achievement was hypothesized and tested. A questionnaire consisted of 10 sub-dimensions was used in order to determine the affective characteristics of high school students. The achievement scores were obtained by using Ninth Grade Electricity Test developed by the researcher. The Ninth Grade Electricity Test includes 29 items about the electricity concept. The Ninth Grade Electricity Test and the Affective Characteristics Scale were administered to 1457 students in 22 foreign language high schools in Ankara when they start to tenth grade in 2004-2005 academic year. The researcher was the data collector and was present in the class during administration of scale and test. The preliminary analyses were conducted by using Excel and SPSS 10.0 and the confirmatory analysis and testing of the hypothesized structural models were conducted by LISREL 8.30 for Windows. The findings indicated that achievement in physics has a significant effect on high school students&rsquo / affective characteristics. Since, affective characteristics of students are effective on achievement in later years, they should be firmly formed at high school years. Besides, affective characteristics should be improved whether they have an effect on achievement or not, because they have an effect on persistence in from of selection of courses which also may give the chance of being successful in a subject to a student.

Student performance in Mathematics and Science education is a source of concern for education authorities in South Africa. This was supported by the latest TIMSS results which were released in December 2004. As in the previous studies, TIMSS and TIMSS-R, South African learners were again outperformed by the learners of all other participating countries (Reddy, 2004). To ensure learner achievement in mathematics and science, we need committed, qualified and experienced teachers in these subjects. In this study a holistic professional development (HPD) model was constructed, tested and evaluated using practicing Grade 10 - 12 teachers. The model developed teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes simultaneously. After analysis of the model we found that improving teachers' content knowledge builds their confidence in teaching their subject. This in turn motivates teachers to perform better in their jobs: they come to class better prepared, eager to do a job they know they are good at, no more coming late, no more plodding through uninspiring one-way lessons. They are turned into better professionals with a positive work ethic. Their improved classroom practices lead to higher enrolments of science learners and improved learner achievement, the crown of successful science teaching. The HPD model was developed in three phases. In the first phase baseline information was obtained to determine problems that exist with the teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes. After data analysis it was found that all three of these dimensions needed development. In the second phase the initial development of the HPD model took place. An intervention programme was structured and the effect of the programme on the teachers' content knowledge, teaching approaches and professional attitudes were analysed. Successful elements of the initial model were extracted and developed further, in addition new elements were added. In the third phase the HPD model was developed further. Analysis of the data showed the following effect on the teachers: they were extricated from a vicious cycle where poor content knowledge leads to lack of confidence which caused unwillingness to spend time on task (poor professional attitudes, ineffective teaching approaches). Instead they became part of a virtuous circle where improved content knowledge leads to increased confidence, enjoyment and a willingness to spend more time on task (better professional attitudes and effective teaching approaches). The HPD model was evaluated using international benchmarks, such as the Standards for Professional Development of the National Research Council of New York, USA. Recommendations and possibilities for future research are discussed. / Mathematical Sciences / D.Phil.(Mathematics, Science and Technology Education - Physics Education)

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T19:13:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Lurdes Eliane Rothmund Bolfe.pdf: 3204511 bytes, checksum: 48c72762c43c6c80c797a8c8cb56a6ef (MD5) Lurdes Eliane Rothmund Bolfe.pdf.jpg: 3882 bytes, checksum: e08425868ec9df13b8268fafa4e6df4d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present work concerns on planning and development of a proposal for teaching Physics, based on the Theory of Conceptual Fields of Vergnaud, developed from the theme tobacco production and implemented in the classroom, with the support of teaching material aided by audiovisual resources, based on the model of three teaching stages by Delizoicóv and Angotti. The proposal aimed the network conceptualization development in the conceptual field of Thermal Physics. The concepts treated in that proposal are temperature, heat, thermal expansion and contraction, thermometers of liquid in glass, conduction, convection and heat irradiation. The support material, developed in this paper, consists of a teaching module that comes with an own production digital video disk. The proposal was applied in a group of twelve students from the second grade of high school, from Escola Estadual de Eduacação Básica Padre Benjamin Copetti, Sobradinho, RS, from September to November 2008. In this period, it was tried to identify their potential and limitations, to assist the students, both the learning of physical concepts as the building of relationships between concepts, and know the importance of the issue tobacco production, in the student s opinion, and identify possible relation they have built between concept and knowledge, involved in the theme chosen. An analysis of this experiment was made from the content of messages, obtained from the instruments of data collection type questionnaire, terms of field (from students) and images video shot. The results indicate that students seemed to be involved and active participants in the tasks presented, indicating acceptance in the methodology of work. During the interaction with the tasks, some students identified both the presence of the same concept in different physical processes, as the same process that involves more than a physical concept, what can be understood as evidence of student development in the conceptualization system of some concepts in the field of Thermal Physics, from processes of reality. The obtained results with only a small group of students, are indicative that the proposal has potential to develop the student conceptualization network, although it is understood that for some students, the tasks given were not enough to develop the construction of physical concepts and their inter-relationship in the processes of reality. / O presente trabalho diz respeito ao planejamento e desenvolvimento de uma proposta de ensino de Física, fundamentada na Teoria dos Campos Conceituais de Vergnaud, desenvolvida a partir do tema produção de fumo de estufa e implementada na sala de aula com o apoio de um material de ensino auxiliado por recursos audiovisuais, com base no modelo dos três momentos pedagógicos de Delizoicóv e Angotti. A proposta teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento da conceitualização em rede do campo conceitual da Física Térmica. Os conceitos tratados na referida proposta são temperatura, calor, dilatação e contração térmica, termômetro de líquido em vidro, condução, convecção e irradiação de calor. O material de apoio, desenvolvido neste trabalho, consiste em um módulo didático que acompanha um disco de vídeo digital de produção própria. A proposta foi aplicada junto a um grupo de doze alunos, da segunda série do ensino médio, da Escola Estadual de Educação Básica Padre Benjamim Copetti, Sobradinho, RS, entre setembro e novembro de 2008. Nesse período, buscou-se identificar suas potencialidades e limitações, para auxiliar os alunos, tanto na aprendizagem de conceitos físicos quanto na construção de relações entre conceitos, bem como conhecer a relevância do tema produção de fumo de estufa, na opinião dos alunos, e identificar possíveis relações construídas por eles entre conceitos e conhecimentos científicos, envolvidos no tema escolhido. Uma análise desta experiência foi feita a partir do conteúdo das mensagens, obtidas em instrumentos de coleta de dados do tipo questionários, caderno de campo (dos alunos e da professora) e imagens vídeo filmadas. Os resultados indicam que os alunos mostraram-se envolvidos e participantes ativos nas tarefas apresentadas, revelando aceitação da metodologia de trabalho. Durante a interação com as tarefas, alguns alunos identificaram tanto a presença de um mesmo conceito físico em diferentes processos, quanto que um mesmo processo envolve mais de um conceito físico, que pode ser entendido como indícios de desenvolvimento no aluno da conceitualização em rede de alguns conceitos do campo da Física Térmica, partindo de processos da realidade. Esses resultados, mesmo tendo sido obtidos com apenas um pequeno grupo de alunos, são indicativos de que a proposta tem potencialidades de desenvolver no aluno a conceitualização em rede, embora se tenha percebido que, para alguns alunos, as tarefas apresentadas não foram suficientes para desenvolver a construção dos conceitos físicos e sua inter-relação a partir de processos da realidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T19:13:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_FINAL_SALETE.pdf.jpg: 3381 bytes, checksum: 21cdccf296f128d8658533bbd7ad7acd (MD5) Dissertacao_FINAL_SALETE.pdf: 819735 bytes, checksum: aaaa21f6b1a6c62288e21696c8a1dbaf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study refers to an empiric research of descriptive qualitative characteristic, which involved the elaboration, conduction and analysis of a Physics teaching proposition for the deaf, centered on visual experience. The teaching proposition combines a Hydrostatics activity sequence, at the introductory level, with the experimentation strategies, learning groups and bilingual communication assisted by an interpreter, in an education perspective that aims at knowledge inclusion. The study aimed to try to comprehend how this proposition is able to assist the deaf in the development of relevant physical concepts, as well as the development of other important subject matters for the integral growth of the human being, having the reference of culture and experience of this community s members. The proposition was elaborated and conducted, centered on visual experience, in a constructivism pedagogical conception of human development, founded on the Vygostky social-historic theory and the meaningful learning theory of Ausubel. Young and adult deaf, who are members of Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Surdos (APAS), of the city of Passo Fundo, RS, have taken part of this research. The participants were assisted at the workshop modality offered by APAS. As data collection instruments, written entries on activity books of the young and adult deaf, the teacher s diary, questionnaires and shootings of the classroom episodes were used. The results analyses were done by using the content analysis method. For the analyses, the young and adult deaf were categorized in groups, namely, Group 1, composed by three students, who attended inclusive classes during their educational journey, without the assistance of an interpreter, and Group 2, composed by two students, who have had a mix of inclusive classes with the assistance of interpreters and classes attended by deaf students only, with teachers who communicated through Brazilian Sign Language. The results of this work indicate that it is possible to include young and adult deaf to knowledge with the use of teaching methods that privilege sight, in which the students demonstrated the possibility of development of conceptual subject matters with the formulation of Hydrostatics introductory concepts, they also demonstrated attitudinal subject matters such as communication, self-esteem, socialization, involvement, interest and curiosity to learn, and proceedings subject matters such as adequate handling of experimental material, measuring executions, observations, regularities examinations, hypothesis confirmation and comparison. As one of the results of this work, a didactical modulus containing the teaching-learning activity sequence used for this study was elaborated and may be used by other teachers as a support to the teaching of the deaf. / Este estudo trata de uma pesquisa empírica de cunho qualitativo descritivo, que envolveu a elaboração, condução e análise de uma proposta de ensino de Física para surdos, centrada na experiência visual. A proposta de ensino combina uma seqüência de atividades de Hidrostática, ao nível introdutório, com as estratégias de experimentação, grupos de aprendizagem e comunicação bilíngüe assistida por uma intérprete, em uma perspectiva de educação que visa à inclusão ao conhecimento. O estudo teve como objetivo compreender como essa proposta pode auxiliar aos surdos no desenvolvimento de conceitos físicos relevantes, bem como no desenvolvimento de outros conteúdos importantes ao crescimento integral do ser humano, tendo-se como referência a cultura e a vivência de membros dessa comunidade. A proposta foi elaborada e conduzida centrada na experiência visual, em uma concepção pedagógica construtivista de desenvolvimento humano, fundamentada na teoria sócio-histórica de Vygotsky e na teoria da aprendizagem significativa de Ausubel. Participaram desta pesquisa jovens e adultos surdos integrantes da Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Surdos (APAS), da cidade de Passo Fundo, RS. Os participantes foram atendidos na modalidade de oficina oferecida pela APAS. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados foram utilizados registros escritos dos jovens e adultos surdos em cadernos de atividades, diário de campo do professor, questionários e imagens vídeo filmadas dos episódios da sala de aula. As análises dos resultados foram feitas utilizando-se o método de análise de conteúdo. Para as análises, os jovens e adultos foram categorizados em grupos, a saber: Grupo 1, composto de três alunos, os quais durante sua trajetória educacional freqüentaram classes inclusivas, sem acompanhamento de intérprete, e o Grupo 2, formado por dois alunos que tiveram sua vida educacional mesclada por classes inclusivas com acompanhamento de intérprete e em classe somente freqüentada por alunos surdos, com professores que utilizavam LIBRAS. Os resultados deste trabalho indicam que é possível incluir jovens e adultos surdos ao conhecimento com a utilização de métodos de ensino que privilegiem a experiência visual. Observou-se que os alunos demonstraram a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de conteúdos conceituais com a formulação de conceitos introdutórios da Hidrostática. Demonstraram também conteúdos atitudinais, como: comunicação, auto-estima, socialização, envolvimento, interesse e curiosidade em aprender; e conteúdos procedimentais, como: manuseio adequado do material experimental, realização de medições, observações, verificação de regularidades, comparação e confirmação de hipóteses. Como um dos resultados deste trabalho, foi elaborado um módulo didático contendo a seqüência de atividades de ensino-aprendizagem utilizada para este estudo, o qual poderá ser utilizado por outros professores como apoio ao ensino de surdos.