Acompanha: Caderno pedagógico: Jogos pedagógicos como estratégia de aprendizagem promovida pela interação entre a família e a escola / Esta dissertação apresenta uma pesquisa que envolve a escola, os educandos e famílias. As atividades enquadram-se na modalidade de jogos pedagógicos utilizados no primeiro momento em ambiente escolar e, posteriormente, em ambiente familiar. A investigação está organizada com reflexões acerca dos seguintes assuntos: jogos pedagógicos, envolvimento familiar no contexto escolar; ensino de Ciências Naturais nos anos Iniciais. O objetivo da pesquisa é propor uma estratégia de ensino com a interação família por meio de uso de jogos pedagógicos com conteúdos de Ciências. As atividades foram desenvolvidas em uma instituição pública com duas turmas do 3º ano do Ensino Fundamental I, envolvendo o educando e pelo menos um familiar. O trabalho inicia com uma oficina de jogos para os familiares em que se fez uma reflexão sobre os benefícios dessa prática. Foram utilizados jogos pedagógicos em sala de aula para que os educandos se habituassem a formar equipes, seguir regras e organizar-se para esse tipo de trabalho no ambiente escolar e familiar. A partir de avaliação diagnóstica foi observado o nível de leitura e escrita dos educandos, a qual orientou a construção das atividades sobre o conteúdo “Estados físicos da água e seus ciclos na natureza” da disciplina de Ciências Naturais. Essa prática serviu de base para a organização de um caderno pedagógico sobre o uso de “jogos pedagógicos como estratégia de aprendizagem promovida pela interação entre a família e a escola”. Os resultados do estudo apontam que os conteúdos do ensino de Ciências Naturais, o jogo pedagógico e o envolvimento familiar podem ser grandes aliados para uma aprendizagem significativa. / This dissertation presents a research that involves the school, the students and the families. The activities are part of the pedagogical games modality, used in the first moment in a scholar environment and later, in the family environment. The investigation is organized with reflections about the following subjects: pedagogical games, familiar involvement in the scholar context, the teaching of Natural Science in the first years of Elementary School. The objective of this research is propose a strategy of teaching with the family interaction using pedagogical games With Science content. The activities were developed in a public institution with two classes from the third year of Elementary School, involving the student and at least one family member. The work begins with a class about games for the family, where it is made a reflection about the benefits of this practice. Pedagogical games were used in the classroom so that the students got used to make teams, follow rules and get organized for this kind of work in the scholar and familiar environment. From the diagnosed evaluation was observed the level of reading and writing of the students, which orientated the construction of the activities about the content “Physical States of the Water and its cycles in the Nature” from the subject Natural Science. This practice served as a foundation for the organization of a pedagogical notebook about the use of “Pedagogical Games as strategies of learning promoted by the interaction between the family and the school.” The results of the study point that the contents of the subject Natural Science, pedagogical games and the familiar involvement may be of great benefit in the process of learning and teaching.

Este trabalho de pesquisa teve por objetivo elaborar, aplicar e avaliar as contribuições de unidades de ensino potencialmente significativas (UEPS) para a aprendizagem de conteúdos sobre o corpo humano e saúde, em uma turma de 8º ano, na disciplina de ciências em uma escola municipal de Bento Gonçalves/RS. A metodologia de pesquisa segue uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza aplicada. Quanto aos objetivos, ela é do tipo exploratória. O procedimento metodológico adotado é a pesquisa participante. A análise dos resultados utilizou os dados registrados no diário de bordo da pesquisadora, bem como os trabalhos escritos, produções artísticas e a própria fala dos alunos, os quais, ao término de cada UEPS, foram utilizados para evidenciar se a aprendizagem foi significativa. As atividades desenvolvidas visaram desafiar a transposição dos conhecimentos teóricos em diferentes linguagens que pudessem evidenciar a ocorrência da aprendizagem significativa. A diversidade de estratégias atendeu ao objetivo de realizar uma avaliação qualitativa ao longo do processo. Ao término da aplicação das UEPS, foi possível verificar que esse é um método potencialmente facilitador da aprendizagem significativa e será divulgado na forma de um guia didático, no qual todas as atividades e recursos pedagógicos serão detalhados para que outros educadores tenham acesso e possam utilizá-lo. / This research aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the contributions of Potentially Significant Teaching Units (UEPS: Unidades de Ensino Potencialmente Significativas, acronym in Portuguese that means Potentially Significant Teaching Units) for the learning content on the human body and health, in a class of eighth school year, in science discipline in a municipal school the city of Bento Gonçalves /RS. The research methodology follows a qualitative approach applied nature. As to the objectives it is the exploratory. The methodological procedure adopted is the participant research. The analysis used the data recorded in the logbook researcher, as well as written works, artistic productions and speech own students, which at the end of each UEPS were used to show if learning was significant. The activities aimed to challenge the implementation of theoretical knowledge in different languages that could show significant learning. The diversity of strategies attended the purpose of making a qualitative assessment throughout the process. At the end of the application of UEPS, we found that this is a potentially facilitative methodology of meaningful learning and thus deserves to be disclosed in form of didactic guide, so that other educators have access to these methodologies.

This thesis examines the readability of two grade 4 Natural Sciences textbooks currently used in South African schools. Being important sources of classroom input, particularly in grade 4 where learners are reading to learn, textbooks should be readable. That the Natural Sciences subject is only introduced in grade 4 makes the assessment of Natural Sciences textbooks at this level significant. The goal of this research therefore, is to assess the readability of two grade 4 Natural Sciences textbooks and their understandability by learners who speak English as an additional language. The goal of assessing the Natural Sciences textbooks is achieved by the use of cloze and traditional comprehension tests, classic readability formulae, textual analysis and teacher interviews. Cloze and traditional comprehension tests are used to test learners’ understanding of the textbooks and classic readability formulae are meant to assess the grade levels of the textbooks. The tests gauge learner understandability while readability formulae establish text readability. Textual analysis allows the assessment of text readability on the basis of more factors than those accommodated by readability formulae. The textual analysis also helps to identify the readability factors supporting or impeding readability. Teacher interviews are conducted to better understand the teachers’ perceptions on the readability of the Natural Sciences textbooks. The major findings of the study are that the two Natural Sciences textbooks used in the study are generally above the reading level of the intended readers, grade 4 learners and that the participating learners do not understand these textbooks. The challenges with the readability of the textbooks stem mainly from the vocabulary and concepts used in the textbooks which are not well explained.

An increased emphasis is being placed on ethics in Information Systems. An investigation of: the relevant literature which highlighted the growth of, and importance in understanding the moral philosophies which underlie Computer Ethics; and the official curricula recommendations that have increasingly and consistently recommended inclusion of courses describing the Social, Professional and Ethical responsibilities of Information Systems Professionals; and informed by the observations from two empirical Studies that showed the extent of unethical behaviour, and how this behaviour is diminished in those who have received formal tertiary level education resulted in a proposed new course module on Ethics in Information Systems. The module follows a sandwich-approach whereby two stand-alone modules are conducted on either side of integrated Computer Ethics content within the rest of the curriculum.

The primary purpose of this study was to capture Natural Science teachers’ perceptions of the national standardised achievement tests (SATs), with a view to illuminating whether or not they were able to interpret and use the SATs reports to inform their practice and for improvement purposes as envisaged in the standardised tests’ objectives. It further sought to investigate how the grade 7 Natural Science teachers were teaching the subject matter, with a view to understanding the performance of learners as illustrated in the 2010 SATs results. The study mainly used qualitative methods such as observations, interviews and document analysis. These were complemented by quantitative methods through the use of the questionnaires, which were used to capture the general perceptions and experiences of Natural Science teachers. Thirty-five questionnaires were sent out and ten responses were received. Quantitative data from the questionnaires were analysed by tabulation to ascertain the frequencies of responses regarding teachers’ perceptions and experiences of SATs, as indicated in different scales per indicator. Furthermore, data generated through video-taped lessons, analysis of learners’ written notes, interviews and open-ended questions from the questionnaires were inductively analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that teachers had positive perceptions towards the ideals of SATs. However, their use of the SATs reports in their teaching was inconclusive. The study also revealed that there were no policy imperatives on SATs, in particular, to guide their use in schools. It was also found that teachers were not teaching the syllabus competencies fully and their Natural Science content knowledge was inadequate. The principal recommendation is that teachers need to acquaint themselves sufficiently with the SATs reports to enable them to use the reports for their intended purposes. Furthermore, teachers need to engage in continuous professional development programmes to improve their Natural Science content knowledge, especially with regard to making information in the textbooks accessible to learners in terms of addressing competencies in the syllabus. Finally, there is a need for policy intervention from the Ministry of Education in Namibia so that the existing tensions between policy formulation and implementation are addressed.

The rationale behind Science Expos is to develop and empower learners to be able to identify problems and find solutions (Eskom Expo Project Guide Book, 2013). It is believed that involvement in Science Expos arouses learners' interest to pursue science related careers. But despite these ideals, there is still poor participation in Science Expos by educators and learners. I conducted this case study in five schools in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The purpose of this study was to understand educators' and learners' perceptions and experiences of their participation in Science Expos. The case study was designed within an interpretive paradigm. The data were generated, triangulated and validated by a variety of methods, namely, document analysis, interviews (semi-structured and focus group) and observations. The main findings of the study were that learners who participate in Science Expos attend workshops organised by Scifest and SAEON office with the help of some of the educators and lecturers from Rhodes University. Learners' participation was influenced and assisted by the educators and peers with whom they were able to communicate and share their projects with. It emerged from the study that, as a result of participating in Science Expos, educators (teachers) and learners were exposed to a wide variety of scientific investigations and skills that are necessary for their classroom based-scientific investigations. It also emerged from this study that educators and learners face the challenge of a lack of motivation; insufficient support from schools and parents; time constraints to support learners in their participation and a lack of knowledge among some educators on their learners' projects. Some learners are even discouraged from participating in Science Expos by their peers on the grounds that they have no chance of winning. Teachers therefore require continuous mentorship and capacity building in order to encourage their learners to partake.

In South Africa, on-going concerns surrounding the development of learners’ literacy, mathematics and science skills are evident and drive various research studies in this field. International studies and assessments, such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) show major differences in the proficiency levels of learners in South Africa in comparison with their international counter parts. To date, however, the more comprehensive international standardised assessment called the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), has not been administered in South Africa. The main aim of this research study was to investigate and scientifically explore the real situation in terms of language, mathematics and science literacy knowledge and skills of Grade 9 learners in South Africa and to draw a comparison between Grade 9 learners from secondary schools in the Port Elizabeth district in South Africa and their international counterparts, using the PISA standardised international assessment. In addition, the aim of the study was to determine the actual language, mathematics and science literacy skills and knowledge acquired by participants in this study. Quantitative data collection was done by administering a modified version of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) to learners from eight schools in Port Elizabeth, supplemented with questionnaires completed by participating learners and school principals. Findings revealed that the South African learners sampled, ranked in the bottom percentile of participating countries in reading, mathematics and science. The study also exposed the glaring inequalities still prevalent in South African education today, 17 years into democracy. The implications point to a serious investigation into the societal and political factors responsible for the discrepancies in the South African educational system at present.

Orientador: Maria das Graças Conde Caldas / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T14:50:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_MaisaMaryellide_M.pdf: 7716126 bytes, checksum: d2fd3886e0a476ecbd5603a9171a86c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Escolas públicas brasileiras têm experimentado novas abordagens pedagógicas, inclusive, por meio de projetos realizados em parceria com universidades. Estas iniciativas buscam desde a apropriação das tecnologias de informação e comunicação por professores e alunos até o desenvolvimento de metodologias que estimulem a reflexão e a autonomia de pensamento. Esta pesquisa objetiva avaliar de que maneira a parceria entre universidade e escola pode contribuir para a melhoria do ensino em geral e de Ciências em particular. Para tanto, analisa atividades de educação pela investigação e, mais especificamente, de robótica pedagógica, coordenadas pelo Núcleo de Informática Aplicada à Educação (NIED), da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), na Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental (EMEF) Professora Elza Maria Pellegrini de Aguiar, de Campinas (SP). As atividades foram acompanhadas entre junho e dezembro de 2013. O trabalho configura-se como um Estudo de Caso único (YIN, 2001), de natureza qualitativa, em que foi utilizado o método quantitativo de forma complementar. Foram ainda realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, aplicados questionários de percepção sobre Ciência e Tecnologia e analisados desenhos obtidos através do Draw a Robot Task (DART), teste para conhecer os imaginários das crianças sobre robótica. O corpus foi composto por 128 alunos, de cinco turmas do 4º ao 6º ano do Ensino Fundamental, além de duas docentes e da orientadora pedagógica da Escola. Os resultados indicam que a partir de novos aprendizados adquiridos com a equipe do NIED, as docentes abordaram temas curriculares de modo interdisciplinar e os estudantes foram incentivados a fazer experimentos e a pesquisar em diferentes fontes de informação. Além disso, as atividades do projeto estimularam o estreitamento dos laços entre a Escola e as famílias dos alunos e, também, contribuíram para que estabelecessem conexões entre os conceitos estudados e seu cotidiano. Apesar dos aspectos positivos, foram percebidas algumas limitações. Nas investigações realizadas pelas crianças, por exemplo, as docentes seguiram etapas pré-determinadas, com perguntas prontas e poucas variáveis, contrariando o espírito do projeto. Com relação especificamente ao ensino de robótica, foi possível concluir que os benefícios foram além do aprendizado de conceitos. As aulas contribuíram, também, para o desenvolvimento do senso crítico dos estudantes, de sua capacidade de trabalhar colaborativamente e para o aumento de seu interesse e motivação. Com este trabalho, espera-se encorajar estudos e práticas referentes ao método de aprendizagem baseada na investigação e contribuir para o desenvolvimento de novas parcerias entre universidades e escolas, para melhorar a qualidade do ensino no Brasil / Abstract: Brazilian public schools have experienced new educational approaches including through projects carried out in partnership with universities. These initiatives seek from the appropriation of information and communication technologies by teachers and students to the development of methodologies that encourage reflection and thought autonomy. This research aims to evaluate how the partnership between university and school can contribute to the improvement of education in general and scientific education in particular. For this, one analyzes the pedagocial robotics activities and inquiry-based education, which were coordinated by the Nucleus of Informatics Applied to Education (NIED), from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), and were held in the Elementary School Elza Maria Pellegrini of Aguiar, located in Campinas (SP). The activities were followed from June to December 2013. This is a single case study (YIN, 2001), based on a qualitative approach, in which the quantitative method was used complementarily. Semi-structured interviews were held, questionnaires related to perception on Science and Technology were applied and drawings obtained through the Draw a Robot Task (DART) were analyzed ¿ the test was used to identify the children's imaginary about Robotics. The corpus consisted of 128 students from five different classes, from 4th to 6th elementary school grade, two teachers and the School's pedagogical advisor. The results indicate that from the new learning acquired with the researchers, the teachers addressed curricular issues in an interdisciplinary manner and students were encouraged to prepare experiments and research on different sources of information. Furthermore, the project activities contributed to closer the bond between the school and the students' families and also helped the children to establish connections between the studied concepts and their everyday life. Despite the positive aspects of the project, some contradictions were perceived. In the investigations carried out by the children, for example, the teachers followed predetermined steps, with ready questions and few variables, contradicting the spirit of the project. With specific regard to robotics' teaching, it was possible to conclude that the benefits went beyond the learning of concepts. Educational robotics classes contributed to the development of students' critical thought, their ability to work collaboratively and it also helped to increase their interest and motivation. This study expects to encourage researches and practices related to the inquiry-based learning method and contribute to the development of new partnerships between universities and schools to improve the quality of education in Brazil / Mestrado / Divulgação Científica e Cultural / Mestra em Divulgação Científica e Cultural

Science educators are currently facing the challenge of reforming the practices of science education. Publications of various science and educational organizations have established new criteria for accomplishing this goal. The new goal of science educators is scientific literacy for all.

The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis that student enthusiasm, participation, and comprehension would increase when using cooperative learning techniques in a classroom context.