This diploma thesis evaluates the knowledge of plants' anatomy and morphology at primary schools. There is very important the type of textbooks used in biology education. The present work is divided into 2 parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part describes methods of evaluation of textbooks and educational results and also formation of didactic test, statistical methods and inquiry-based education. Because we wanted to know frequency of use of this approach in biology lessons. The practical part contains research results.

This diploma thesis called Estimations in Mathematics at Elementary School is created as an auxiliary teaching material. It acquaints the readers with the concept of mathematical estimation and presents its basic divisions. It also provides graphic instructions how to make estimations and it contains plenty of problems which serve as a systematic practicing and training of the ability of estimating. In addition, the form of individual problems shows spheres in which estimating is convenient to develop. At the end of the work there are presented research-oriented problems with the need of estimation.

The aim of this doctoral thesis is to appraise the efficiency of inquiry-based education in biology (IBSE, inquiry-based science education) and to compare this efficiency with the efficiency of the tuition that uses traditional teaching methods, during the schooling of chosen themes from the human physiology, on different educational levels in the Czech Republic. For the purpose of monitoring the efficiency of both educational attitudes, there were drawn up pretests and posttests. Thanks to them, the level of involved pupils' and students' knowledge of contents and skills, was measured before and subsequently after the application of inquiry based tasks to the laboratory classes. The variety of inquiry based tasks that met the requirements of IBSE, that focused on chosen topics from the human physiology and that complied with the knowledge and age of the given group, was made for the research purpose. The research was realized with elementary school pupils, grammar school pupils and university students. In the lump, there were 145 pupils from the elementary school and grammar school and 168 university students. Pupils and students were divided into the experimental groups, where they solved task with the elements of IBSE, and to the groups with traditional teaching. Conclusions of the researches that were based on the comparing of pupils and students success rate in pretests and posttest showed, the IBSE led to the better knowledge acquirement. But in the comparison with the results of pupils and students from the traditional teaching groups, the improvement was not statistically significant. It was discovered that IBSE leads to the significantly more effective acquirement of science skills (e.g. assessment and suggestion of the science research, design of the scientific and research questions, data interpretation and making of appropriate conclusions). The efficiency was influenced by the educational level (i.e. by the age of involved pupils and students and by the type of school) this approach was the most effective in grammar schools. Given research proves that the application of the IBSE to the teaching of human physiology presents felicitous innovation in the science education. In view of the fact that it leads to the identical or better knowledge adoption and it also significantly develops pupils' and students' scientific skills.

This diploma theses deals with a new trend of current teaching of science subjects and that is inquiry-based teaching. The main goal of this, for now in Czech environment unknown, teaching method is to make the teaching of science subjects more attractive and to renew the interest of pupils in these subjects. The theoretical part describes inquiry-based teaching, defines the educational subject of geography and it elaborates the connections with the generally educational programme the Primary education. The main part of the diploma thesis introduces created subjects of the teaching activities using the inquiry-based teaching of geography at the secondary school with the focus on the local region SO ORP Jindřichův Hradec. The submitted subjects of the teaching activities in socio-geographical region are thematically dedicated to transport, the quality of life and tourism, while the physically-geographical regions analyze the themes of meteorology and hydrology. The thesis includes the feedback on real created subjects of teaching activities. The attachment contains the worksheets related to the above mentioned activities.

As escolas de ensino médio vem mantendo um ensino de Biologia de forma bastante teórica e pouco ligada a realidade do mundo que cerca o aluno. Atualmente espera-se que um aluno que saia do ensino médio atuando com autonomia, lidando com as informações e fazendo uso dos conhecimentos adquiridos na escola, como já é esclarecido nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (PCNs). Assim, usar metodologias que envolvam o Ensino de Biologia baseado na investigação pode dar ao aluno uma nova forma de pensar, uma oportunidade de construir o próprio conhecimento. Na educação baseada na investigação, existem três fatores de extrema importância a serem investigados: a motivação dos alunos em aprenderem e participarem das mais diversas atividades em aula, a emoção despertada nos alunos em relação às aulas e ao ambiente da escola e a ideia e concepção de Ciência que eles desenvolvem ao longo do seu período escolar. Esta dissertação relata um estudo onde foram utilizadas escalas para avaliar a emoção e a motivação dos alunos, além de um questionário que avaliou a concepção de Ciências deles, antes e depois da realização de atividades que envolviam o ensino por investigação. Em um primeiro momento, os dados gerados mostraram que havia pouca variação na emoção e motivação dos alunos antes e depois das atividades investigativas, porém, em relação à concepção de Ciências deles, a mudança foi surpreendente. Em um segundo momento foram analisados os discursos dos alunos ao longo do desenvolvimento das atividades investigativas, dessa análise apresentou-se dados que através de referenciais teóricos ligados a aprendizagem significativa demonstraram a relevância do uso de atividades que envolvam investigação na sala de aula. Assim, investigar a interferência do uso de metodologias que envolvam o ensino baseado na investigação na motivação, na emoção e na concepção de Ciência dos alunos do ensino médio, destaca a importância de estudos em ambientes educativos não tradicionais, que privilegiam oportunidades para que os alunos desenvolvam entendimento, expressem suas emoções, e que possam construir significado a partir de aplicações no mundo real. / The high school has maintained a teaching of Biology fairly theoretical and somewhat connected to reality of the world that surrounds the students. Currently it is expected that a student coming out of high school acting with autonomy, dealing with information and making use of the knowledge acquired in school, as is made clear in National Curricular Parameters (PCN). Thus, using methodologies that involve the inquiry-based learning can give the student a new way of thinking, an opportunity to build their own knowledge. In inquiry-based education, there are three very important factors to be investigated: motivation of students to learn and participate in various activities in the classroom, the emotion aroused in students in relation to school and the school environment and the idea and design of science they develop throughout their school years. This paper reports a study which scales to assess the excitement and motivation of students were used, plus a questionnaire that assessed the concept of Science of them before and after the completion of activities involving inquiry-based learning. At first, the data generated showed that there was little variation in emotion and motivation of students before and after the investigative activities, however, on the concept of Science of them, the change was amazing. In a second step the speeches of the students were analyzed during the development of investigative activities, this analysis presented data through theoretical frameworks linked to meaningful learning demonstrated the relevance of using activities involving research in the classroom. Thus, to investigate the interference of methodologies involving inquiry-based learning in motivation, emotion and concept of Science of high school students, highlights the importance of studies in none-traditional educational environments that emphasize opportunities for students develop understanding, express emotions, and they can construct meaning from realworld applications.

This diploma thesis proposes a modern way of teaching leaf morphology in elementary school. It includes research that builds on the bachelor thesis ,,The leaf as an organ of higher plants - creation of photographic collection of leaves". The theoretical part contains an analysis of the objectives and trends of contemporary learning and teaching methods, and also summarizes the interconnection of teaching leaf morphology with the FEP. The practical part contains an interactive learning program with elements of inquiry-based education aimed at teaching leaf morphology. The research in this paper compares the quality of students' knowledge learned by the compiled program and the students learned the traditional way.

abstract: To develop critical reasoning skills potentially advances students' ability to critically consume information, make informed decisions, and actively participate in a democracy. An inquiry-based pedagogical approach to science teaching remains an effective means to develop critical reasoning skills. Participating in scientific inquiry requires students to generate arguments and test alternative hypotheses using experimental evidence. Scientific inquiry demands that students use their critical reasoning skills. Unfortunately, many teachers fail to allocate an adequate amount of time for genuine experimentation in science classes. As a result, science classes often leave students unprepared to think critically and apply their knowledge in a practical manner. The focus of this study was to investigate the extent to which an inquiry-based professional development experience, including a two-day summer workshop and 18 weeks of follow up Professional Learning Community (PLC) support, affected the attitudes and pedagogical skills regarding scientific inquiry among six high school biology teachers. A concurrent mixed methods, action research design was used to measure changes in teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and skills regarding inquiry-based pedagogy was measured throughout the 22 weeks of the study. A survey instrument, card sorting activity, classroom observations using the Reformed Teacher Observation Protocol (RTOP), individual interviews, and PLC observations were used to gather data. Results indicated the professional development was effective in transforming the participating teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and skills regarding inquiry-based pedagogy. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Leadership and Innovation 2018

Syftet med min undersökning var att bidra med ökade kunskaper om vilka uppfattningar som finns bland fjärdeklasselever gällande syftet med NTA i kemi, och om dessa överensstämmer med lärarens syfte. Datainsamlingen har gjorts via gruppintervjuer med femton elever och deras lärare. Intervjusvaren har sedan kategoriserats induktivt. Resultatet har visat att eleverna inte uppfattar syftet med NTA-lådan så som läraren tänkt. Det verkar som att eleverna ser ett mer närliggande syfte och fokuserar på vad som händer. Läraren, å andra sidan, tycks ha ett mer övergripande syfte som utgår från kunskapskraven men som hon inte fullt ut lyckas kommunicera till eleverna. Hon syftar även till att eleverna utvecklar sin resonemangsförmåga genom diskussioner i helklass. Eleverna tycker dessutom att helkassdiskussionerna är intressanta och lärorika. Tid läggs på diskussionerna vilket ger en möjlighet till en naturvetenskaplig literacitet. / The purpose of my study was to contribute with increased knowledge on what ideas fourth grade pupils have about the aims of NTA in chemistry, and if their ideas correspond with the teachers´ aims. The data collection is made through group interviews with fifteen pupils and their teacher. The answers in these interviews have been inductively categorized. The results have shown that pupils don´t see the aims of the NTA-boxes as the teacher have in mind. It seems like the pupils´ see aims in each lesson and focus on what is happening. The teacher, on the other hand, has a much more overall aim that originates from the curriculum, but which she doesn´t manage to fully communicate to the pupils. She also intends that the pupils should develop their capability of reasoning, which they do during classroom discussions. In addition to this, the pupils also find classroom discussions both interesting and educational. Time is given for classroom discussions which gives an opportunity for scientific literacy.

As escolas de ensino médio vem mantendo um ensino de Biologia de forma bastante teórica e pouco ligada a realidade do mundo que cerca o aluno. Atualmente espera-se que um aluno que saia do ensino médio atuando com autonomia, lidando com as informações e fazendo uso dos conhecimentos adquiridos na escola, como já é esclarecido nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (PCNs). Assim, usar metodologias que envolvam o Ensino de Biologia baseado na investigação pode dar ao aluno uma nova forma de pensar, uma oportunidade de construir o próprio conhecimento. Na educação baseada na investigação, existem três fatores de extrema importância a serem investigados: a motivação dos alunos em aprenderem e participarem das mais diversas atividades em aula, a emoção despertada nos alunos em relação às aulas e ao ambiente da escola e a ideia e concepção de Ciência que eles desenvolvem ao longo do seu período escolar. Esta dissertação relata um estudo onde foram utilizadas escalas para avaliar a emoção e a motivação dos alunos, além de um questionário que avaliou a concepção de Ciências deles, antes e depois da realização de atividades que envolviam o ensino por investigação. Em um primeiro momento, os dados gerados mostraram que havia pouca variação na emoção e motivação dos alunos antes e depois das atividades investigativas, porém, em relação à concepção de Ciências deles, a mudança foi surpreendente. Em um segundo momento foram analisados os discursos dos alunos ao longo do desenvolvimento das atividades investigativas, dessa análise apresentou-se dados que através de referenciais teóricos ligados a aprendizagem significativa demonstraram a relevância do uso de atividades que envolvam investigação na sala de aula. Assim, investigar a interferência do uso de metodologias que envolvam o ensino baseado na investigação na motivação, na emoção e na concepção de Ciência dos alunos do ensino médio, destaca a importância de estudos em ambientes educativos não tradicionais, que privilegiam oportunidades para que os alunos desenvolvam entendimento, expressem suas emoções, e que possam construir significado a partir de aplicações no mundo real. / The high school has maintained a teaching of Biology fairly theoretical and somewhat connected to reality of the world that surrounds the students. Currently it is expected that a student coming out of high school acting with autonomy, dealing with information and making use of the knowledge acquired in school, as is made clear in National Curricular Parameters (PCN). Thus, using methodologies that involve the inquiry-based learning can give the student a new way of thinking, an opportunity to build their own knowledge. In inquiry-based education, there are three very important factors to be investigated: motivation of students to learn and participate in various activities in the classroom, the emotion aroused in students in relation to school and the school environment and the idea and design of science they develop throughout their school years. This paper reports a study which scales to assess the excitement and motivation of students were used, plus a questionnaire that assessed the concept of Science of them before and after the completion of activities involving inquiry-based learning. At first, the data generated showed that there was little variation in emotion and motivation of students before and after the investigative activities, however, on the concept of Science of them, the change was amazing. In a second step the speeches of the students were analyzed during the development of investigative activities, this analysis presented data through theoretical frameworks linked to meaningful learning demonstrated the relevance of using activities involving research in the classroom. Thus, to investigate the interference of methodologies involving inquiry-based learning in motivation, emotion and concept of Science of high school students, highlights the importance of studies in none-traditional educational environments that emphasize opportunities for students develop understanding, express emotions, and they can construct meaning from realworld applications.

Deveria ser esperado que a população fosse ciente de como a ciência, e principalmente, seus conhecimentos e aplicações, chegam até ela e, para isso, tivesse esclarecimento e discernimento suficientes para perceber, entender e julgar as novidades científico-tecnológicas a que tem acesso no que poderíamos chamar de Alfabetização Científica (AC). Sasseron (2008) define a AC como um processo de inserção dos indivíduos dentro da cultura científica. Sasseron e Carvalho (2008), a partir de eixos estruturantes da AC, propõem indicadores que servem como parâmetros que permitam identificar que a AC está em processo. Osborne e Patterson publicam, em 2011, um polêmico trabalho com o intuito de distinguir Argumentos de Explicações, alegando que a falta de distinção entre estes dois conceitos representa uma fraqueza no campo de pesquisa em ensino de Ciências. Tomando a AC como norte para o ensino de ciência, Argumentos e Explicações se valorizam, já que pertencem às práticas da ciência e podem ser um meio de atingir metas cognitivas, epistêmicas e sociais da aprendizagem em Ciências. Os objetivos deste trabalho: a) a partir de apoios da literatura, desenvolver recursos metodológicos para caracterizar e diferenciar argumentos e explicações; b) identificar e analisar argumentos e explicações presentes nas produções escritas de alunos; c) identificar e analisar indicadores de AC presentes nas produções escritas dos alunos. Nossa análise se deu sobre uma das atividades realizadas dentro do contexto de uma sequência de ensino investigativo (SEI), a qual aborda a temática \"Dinâmica Populacional\", aplicada em duas turmas do 1° ano do Ensino Médio da Escola de Aplicação da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo (EAFEUSP) em 2012 e 2013. Os alunos realizaram um experimento sobre a capacidade suporte de um ambiente para a população de Lemna sp (uma planta aquática de pequeno porte que apresenta alta taxa de reprodução por brotamento). Após a realização desse experimento, os alunos produziram relatórios coletivamente com conclusões individuais. Analisamos cada trecho (o qual poderia se constituir de um parágrafo, tabela, gráfico ou figura) de um conjunto de 29 relatórios em busca dos indicadores da AC e de Explicações e Argumentos. Foram encontrados 571 indicadores de AC nos relatórios e 367 nas conclusões individuais, e isso nos permite considerar que a AC está em processo. Também podemos considerar que os alunos envolveram-se com as investigações e as discussões propostas. A proposição de uma metodologia de desambiguação é tanto metodologia como resultado, e a aplicação desta nos permitiu identificar 35 Explicações e 22 Argumentos nos relatórios e respectivamente 21 e 40 nas 52 conclusões individuais que foram produzidas apenas no ano de 2013. No tocante aos objetivos desta pesquisa, acreditamos tê-los respondido na medida em que desenvolvemos uma metodologia que nos permitiu distinguir Argumentos e Explicações em produções escritas de alunos e identificamos os indicadores de Alfabetização Científica presentes nessas produções. Essa última tarefa culminou na proposição de dois novos indicadores em acréscimo aos que usamos como referência (SASSERON 2008; SASSERON e CARVALHO 2008): um deles é o próprio Argumento, e outro, a Listagem de materiais. / Should be expected that the population is aware of how science, especially their knowledge and reach, comes to her and, therefore, had sufficient enlightenment and discernment to perceive, understand and judge the scientific and technological innovations that give access to what may be called the Scientific Literacy (SL). Sasseron (2008) defines the SL as a process of integration of individuals within the scientific culture. Sasseron and Carvalho (2008) from the structural axis of SL propose indicators that serve as parameters that identify that the SL is in process. Osborne and Patterson published a controversial study in 2011 in order to distinguish Arguments from Explanations, claiming that the lack of distinction between these concepts is a weakness in the field of research in science teaching. Taking the SL as north to the teaching of science, Arguments and Explanations are valued, since they belong to the practices of science and can be a way to achieve cognitive, epistemic and social goals of learning in science. The aims of this work: a) supported from the literature, develop methodological tools to characterize and differentiate Arguments and Explanations; b) identify and analyze Arguments and Explanations present in the written production of students; c) identify and analyze indicators of SL present in the students\' written productions. Our analysis was based on one of the activities carried out within the context of a sequence of investigative teaching (SEI), which deals with the \"Population Dynamics\" theme, applied to two classes of the 1st year of high school at the Escola de Aplicação from the Faculdade de Educação from University of São Paulo (EAFEUSP) in 2012 e 2013. Students conducted an experiment on the carrying capacity of an environment for the population of Lemna sp (an aquatic plant that features small high rate of reproduction by budding). After performing this experiment, students collectively produced reports with individual conclusions. We analyzed each passage (which could be a paragraph, table, graph or diagram) of a set of 29 reports in search of indicators of the AC, the explanations and arguments. We found 571 indicators of SL in the reports and the 367 in the individual conclusions, and this allows us to consider that the SL is in progress. We can also consider that the students were involved with the investigation and the proposed discussions. The proposition of a methodology for the disambiguation is both method and result. Applying this methodology allowed us to identify 35 Explanations and 22 Arguments in the reports. We found respectively 21 and 40 in 52 individual conclusions that were produced in 2013 only. Concerning the aims of this study, we believe having them answered, as we developed a methodology that allowed us to distinguish Arguments and Explanations in written production of students, and identify indicators of Scientific Literacy on those productions. This last task culminated in the proposal of two new indicators in addition to those we used as reference (SASSERON 2008; SASSERON e CARVALHO 2008): one is the Argument itself, and another, the Listing of Materials.