A study was conducted to determine the effects of directed discovery-based teaching methods (hands-on learning) and weekly quizzes on short-term learning and long-term retention of course material in an introductory geosciences laboratory course. Assessment of learning was accomplished using percentages of correct responses to questions on two tests, using percentages from the first semester of the study as a baseline to which data from each subsequent semester were compared to determine the effects of the study variable that was introduced. Student evaluations of value, meaning, and enjoyment of the course were also investigated through the use of an essay question at the end of the second test. The study revealed that directed discovery-based methods were successful for the teaching of some subject material, but not for all, and that the method did not necessarily enhance learning of scientific vocabulary. Weekly quizzes resulted in improved learning in all subject areas. Simultaneous use of traditional and directed-discovery teaching methods as well as weekly quizzes is recommended.

Ensinar é sem dúvida um dos grandes desafios do século XXI. A busca por alternativas ao tradicional sistema de ensino mostra a necessidade de mudanças, que é inerente à sociedade do conhecimento em contínua evolução. Desta forma, esta pesquisa pretende investigar se as ações desenvolvidas na Escola E. E. Arnolfo Azevedo pelo projeto Laboratório de Ciências e sua interação com a Universidade por meio do programa de Préiniciação Científica contribuem para a construção e manutenção de um modelo que busca a melhoria da qualidade do ensino e aprendizagem em ciências exatas e biológicas nas Escolas Públicas. Foram utilizados questionários qualitativos e quantitativos para construção dos gráficos em forma de barras e linhas de tendência, associando estes dados ao referencial proposto por meio da triangulação. Assim, os resultados indicam que a participação dos alunos nos respectivos projetos: Laboratório e a Pré-iniciação científica, promovem significativa mudança de comportamento associado à dedicação e responsabilidade com os estudos representada pela melhora significativa em seu rendimento escolar e conseqüente melhora na qualidade do ensino na área de ciências naturais. / Teaching is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The search for alternatives to the traditional teaching system shows the need for changing, which is inherent to knowledge society in continuous development. Therefore, this research deals with the investigation whether the actions carried out in the Project of the Laboratory of Sciences at E.E. Arnolfo Azevedo and its interaction with the University through Scientific Pre-Initiation Program have contributed to the construction and maintenance of a model which seeks to improve the teaching and learning quality in Exact and Biological Sciences in Public Schools. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were used to build graphs of trend lines and error bars, associating these data with the proposed framework through triangulation. The results indicate that the students\' participation in the respective projects (Laboratory and Scientific Pre-Initiation) has promoted meaningful behavior change associated with studies dedication and responsibility represented by the significant improvement in their school performance and, consequently, in the teaching quality in Natural Sciences area.

Ensinar é sem dúvida um dos grandes desafios do século XXI. A busca por alternativas ao tradicional sistema de ensino mostra a necessidade de mudanças, que é inerente à sociedade do conhecimento em contínua evolução. Desta forma, esta pesquisa pretende investigar se as ações desenvolvidas na Escola E. E. Arnolfo Azevedo pelo projeto Laboratório de Ciências e sua interação com a Universidade por meio do programa de Préiniciação Científica contribuem para a construção e manutenção de um modelo que busca a melhoria da qualidade do ensino e aprendizagem em ciências exatas e biológicas nas Escolas Públicas. Foram utilizados questionários qualitativos e quantitativos para construção dos gráficos em forma de barras e linhas de tendência, associando estes dados ao referencial proposto por meio da triangulação. Assim, os resultados indicam que a participação dos alunos nos respectivos projetos: Laboratório e a Pré-iniciação científica, promovem significativa mudança de comportamento associado à dedicação e responsabilidade com os estudos representada pela melhora significativa em seu rendimento escolar e conseqüente melhora na qualidade do ensino na área de ciências naturais. / Teaching is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The search for alternatives to the traditional teaching system shows the need for changing, which is inherent to knowledge society in continuous development. Therefore, this research deals with the investigation whether the actions carried out in the Project of the Laboratory of Sciences at E.E. Arnolfo Azevedo and its interaction with the University through Scientific Pre-Initiation Program have contributed to the construction and maintenance of a model which seeks to improve the teaching and learning quality in Exact and Biological Sciences in Public Schools. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were used to build graphs of trend lines and error bars, associating these data with the proposed framework through triangulation. The results indicate that the students\' participation in the respective projects (Laboratory and Scientific Pre-Initiation) has promoted meaningful behavior change associated with studies dedication and responsibility represented by the significant improvement in their school performance and, consequently, in the teaching quality in Natural Sciences area.

Die nur durchschnittlichen Ergebnisse vor allem in den Naturwissenschaften deutscher Schüler in internationalen Vergleichsstudien motivierten vielfältige Initiativen zur Gründung außerschulischer Lernorte. Diese haben u. a. das Ziel, dem schwindenden Interesse z. B. an Physik entgegenzutreten und so neben der Schule einen Beitrag zur naturwissenschaftlichen Grundbildung der Schüler zu leisten. Eine Variante dieser Lernorte sind so genannte Schülerlabore, in denen Schüler die Möglichkeit haben, sich intensiv mit naturwissenschaftlichen Fragestellungen zu beschäftigen und selbständig Experimente durchzuführen. Wenig erforscht ist jedoch die Wirksamkeit dieser Einrichtungen bezogen auf kognitive und affektive Ziele. Die vorliegende explorative Arbeit geht der Frage nach, wie sich das Interesse von Schülern der fünften und achten Jahrgangsstufe an Physik bei dreimaligen Besuchen eines Schülerlabors innerhalb eines Schulhalbjahres entwickelt. Zusätzlich ergründet sie am Beispiel der Anfangsoptik, wie sich eine von fachdidaktischer Seite geforderte Einbindung der Besuche in das laufende Curriculum auf die Interessenentwicklung auswirkt. Die Ergebnisse der auf Fragebogenerhebungen gestützten Studie lassen die Vermutung zu, dass Besuche eines Schülerlabors altersübergreifend lediglich kurzfristig positive Effekte hervorrufen. Das durch den Besuch gesteigerte Interesse geht bereits innerhalb weniger Wochen wieder verloren. Ein anfängliches Interessenniveau kann nur durch einen erneuten Besuch annähernd wieder erreicht werden. Die Besuche können somit nur den aus der psychologischen Forschung bekannten „Catch“-Faktoren zugeordnet werden. Diese können zwar als wirksames Mittel dienen, kurzfristig das Interesse zu wecken, sie sind jedoch nicht imstande, dieses mittelfristig aufrecht zu halten. Für eine Genese langfristig wirkender Interessen sind so genannte „Hold“-Komponenten erforderlich, die für eine Stabilisierung sorgen. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt Hinweise darauf, dass dies durch eine thematische und methodische Einbindung der Besuche in das laufende Curriculum gewährleistet werden kann. Lehrer und Betreiber von außerschulischen Lernorten sollten dies daher zum Anlass nehmen, ihre Bildungsabsichten stärker miteinander abzustimmen. / International assessment studies revealed mediocre results of german students especially in science and thus motivated several initiatives to establish extracurricular learning facilities. Among others these facilities aspire to overcome the decreasing interest as for instance in physics and to contribute to students’ scientific literacy. One type of these informal learning settings are so-called science labs for school students. There, students have the chance to occupy themselves with scientific problems and to conduct experiments autonomously. Research concerning the effectiveness of these facilities regarding both cognitive and affective aims is scarce though. The present explorative study examines the impact of three visits to a science lab for school students on the development of interest in physics of 5th- and 8th-grade students. In addition, taking optics as an example it investigates the effectiveness of an integration of the visits into the current school curriculum as demanded frequently. Surveyed by questionnaires the results of the study give rise to the assumption that visits to a science lab cause positive effects only on a short time scale for all investigated age groups. The increased interest immediately after the visit declines within a few weeks. An initial level can only be reached by a subsequent visit. Hence, visits can only be assigned as “catch”-facets as known in psychological research. Therefore they can serve as an effective means to arouse interest but they are not capable of sustaining it on a mid term time scale. The genesis of long term interest requires so called “hold”-facets, which in turn stabilise the interest. The present study indicates that this stabilisation can be obtained by a thematic and methodical integration of the visits into the ongoing curriculum. Thus, teachers and carriers of extracurricular learning facilities should strive for a coordination of their educational objectives.