Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this dissertation was to identify how the 'Student Voice' makes part of the construction of the science curriculum, the development of Reference Matrix ENEM and of the preparation of textbooks in the high school biology. This work is organized in 3 chapters in article format, in order to address in more detail the issues that make up this research. The first article investigated the jobs that have been made in recent years about textbook and School Curriculum and mapped the contributions of the views of students in the construction of the Science Curriculum. The second article sought relations between the interests of high school students resulting from the application - in nationwide, an instrument entitled The Relevance of Science Education (ROSE) and the skills assessed in ENEM, analyzed from its Reference Matrix. The third and final article aims to investigate how often the topics of greatest interest to high school students appear in Biology textbook. From this, the need arises to study whether there is relationship between the triad: Interests of students, Textbook and Curriculum. This is because we believe that there should be a balance in the process of (re) construction curriculum in which students leave the facilitating role to become active participants in this process. Listen students provides a major change in decision-making and educational activities geared for whom education is designed. The set of three articles showed us that researches on 'Student Voice' are very important for the development of new curricular and pedagogical strategies. However, there are a greater number of researchers engaged on the subject abroad than in Brazil. We showed the almost null student participation in decisions, discussions or even meetings on changes, menus and curricular reforms. In conclusion, it is necessary to increase the number of jobs and new research about the 'Student Voice', in order to valorize the information given by young people. It is noticed that some of the interests of young people, analyzed, appear very superficially in some of the selected collections. With the present results, we can suggest the need of new researches about the quality of textbook. These can not only identify possible deficiencies and refine future training structures of textbooks, but can also become important tools to arise books with a new look for Science Education. / O objetivo desta dissertação foi identificar de que forma a Voz do estudante‟ faz parte da construção do currículo de Ciências, da elaboração da Matriz de Referência do ENEM e da confecção dos Livros Didáticos (LDs) de Biologia do Ensino Médio. Este trabalho encontra-se organizado em 3 capítulos em formato de artigo, com o intuito de abordar de maneira mais detalhada os assuntos que compõem esta pesquisa. O primeiro artigo investigou os trabalhos que foram feitos nos últimos anos sobre LD e Currículo Escolar e mapeou as contribuições das opiniões dos estudantes na construção do Currículo de Ciências. O segundo artigo buscou as relações entre os interesses dos estudantes do Ensino Médio - resultantes da aplicação, em âmbito nacional, de um instrumento intitulado The Relevance of Science Education (ROSE) e as habilidades avaliadas no ENEM, analisadas a partir de sua Matriz de Referência. O terceiro e último artigo tem como objetivo investigar a frequência com que os temas de maior interesse dos alunos do Ensino Médio aparecem nos LDs de Biologia. Diante disso, surge a necessidade de estudar se há ou não articulação entre a tríade: Interesses dos alunos, Livro Didático e Currículo. Isso porque, acreditamos que deva existir um equilíbrio no processo de (re) construção curricular em que os alunos deixem o papel de coadjuvantes para se tornarem participantes ativos desse processo. Ouvir os estudantes proporciona uma importante mudança em decisões e ações pedagógicas voltadas para quem o ensino se destina. O conjunto dos 3 artigos nos mostrou que pesquisas sobre a Voz do estudante‟ são muito importantes para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias curriculares e pedagógicas. Porém, ainda é maior o número de pesquisadores empenhados no assunto no exterior do que aqui no Brasil. O que revelamos é a quase nula‟ participação dos estudantes em decisões, discussões ou até mesmo reuniões sobre mudanças, ementas, reformas curriculares. Por fim, se faz necessário ampliar o número de trabalhos e novas pesquisas sobre a Voz do estudante‟, a fim de valorizar as informações dadas pelos jovens. Percebe-se que alguns dos interesses dos estudantes, aqui analisados, aparecem de forma muito superficial em algumas das coleções selecionadas. Não podemos generalizar, mas a partir dos resultados obtidos podemos sugerir novas pesquisas sobre a qualidade dos LDs. Estas podem não só apontar possíveis deficiências e refinar as futuras estruturas formativas dos livros didáticos, como também podem se tornar importantes ferramentas para que surjam livros com um novo olhar para o Ensino de Ciências.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study investigated the effect of an Argumentation Instructional Model (AIM) on the preservice teachers‘ ability to implement a Science-IK Curriculum in selected South African schools. I examined what instructional practices the pre-service teachers engage in when they introduce scientific explanation and whether those practices influence learners‘ ability to construct scientific explanations during a natural science unit of a South African school curriculum. My study began with a pilot study of 16 pre-service science teachers who completed a B.Ed university module, Science for Teaching, which included an IK component. Data collection for main study took place from 2010 to 2011, and used questionnaires, face-to-face and reflective interview protocols, case studies, lesson plans and classroom observation schedules. I took videos and audios of each of the pre-service teacher‘s enactment of the focal lesson on argumentation and then coded the videotape for different instructional practices. The study investigated firstly, what currently informed teachers‘ thinking, knowledge and action of IK. Secondly, the research questioned how teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the science classroom. A sample of the three pre-service teachers were followed into their classrooms to investigate how they specifically implemented Learning Outcome Three using argumentation instruction as a mode of instruction and what approaches relevant to the inclusion of IK were developed. The study found that the three pre-service teachers used three very different approaches through which IK was brought in the science curriculum. An assimilationist approach, that brings IK into science by seeking how best IK fits into science. A segregationist approach that holds IK side-by-side with scientific knowledge. Lastly, an integrationist approach makes connections between IK and science. The approaches developed by the pre-service teachers were found to be informed by their biographies, values, cultural backgrounds and worldviews. Meticulously, the study explored how shifts were being made from a theoretical phase at the university where the pre-service teachers engaged IK to an actual phase of implementation in their school science classrooms. Finally, I attempted to explain why the pre-service teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the way they did. / South Africa

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study investigated the effect of an Argumentation Instructional Model (AIM) on the preservice teachers‘ ability to implement a Science-IK Curriculum in selected South Africanschools. I examined what instructional practices the pre-service teachers engage in when they introduce scientific explanation and whether those practices influence learners‘ ability to construct scientific explanations during a natural science unit of a South African school curriculum. My study began with a pilot study of 16 pre-service science teachers who completed a B.Ed university module, Science for Teaching, which included an IK component. Data collection for main study took place from 2010 to 2011, and used questionnaires, face-to-face and reflective interview protocols, case studies, lesson plans and classroom observation schedules. I took videos and audios of each of the pre-service teacher‘s enactment of the focal lesson on argumentation and then coded the videotape for different instructional practices. The study investigated firstly, what currently informed teachers‘ thinking, knowledge and action of IK. Secondly, the research questioned how teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the science classroom. A sample of the three pre-service teachers were followed into their classrooms to investigate how they specifically implemented Learning Outcome Three using argumentation instruction as a mode of instruction and what approaches relevant to the inclusion of IK were developed. The study found that the three pre-service teachers used three very different approaches through which IK was brought in the science curriculum. An assimilationist approach, that brings IK into science by seeking how best IK fits into science. A segregationist approach that holds IK side-by-side with scientific knowledge. Lastly, an integrationist approach makes connections between IK and science. The approaches developed by the pre-service teachers were found to be informed by their biographies, values, cultural backgrounds and worldviews. Meticulously, the study explored how shifts were being made from a theoretical phase at the university where the pre-service teachers engaged IK to an actual phase of implementation in their school science classrooms. Finally, I attempted to explain why the pre-service teachers interpreted and implemented IK in the way they did.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of curriculum change in teaching and learning of science subjects at schools in Vhembe District. The research also meant to answer the following research objectives on the impact of new changes in curriculum. The first research objective was based on the effects of curriculum changes in the teaching and learning of science. The second research objective was based on the constraints or factors that might be affecting the effectiveness of new changes in teaching and learning of science. The third research objective was based on the monitoring and support on the new changes in science curriculum. Research objective four was addressed as a recommendation. It was about the suggestion for future planning of changes in curriculum. In this era of on-going new developments in curriculum, it was imperative to find out how new changes are affecting teaching and learning of science curriculum even in the most remote parts of the country. The continuous changes that are taking place in science curriculum demand the need for this research. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used as data collection methods using the qualitative method. Schools which participated in the study were selected using purposive sampling. It is revealed in the findings that teachers feel that it is not necessary for them to change the way they teach, especially those who did not receive training on the new curriculum changes during their tertiary education. The findings also indicate that lack of resources impact negatively on the implementation of curriculum reform in teaching and learning of science in many under-resourced schools in rural areas. The findings also reveal that, it is not easy for subject advisors to give relevant support because of inadequate resources and lack of human capacity. According to the research findings, inadequate resources, skills and knowledge and lack of pre-planning on new curriculum development adversely affect the teaching and learning of science in schools. It is therefore recommended that the proposed curriculum development and reform be piloted before it is implemented as proposed in the model for the preparation of effective curriculum changes and development in science. Also, it is important to have functional curriculum support forums at school, circuit and district levels. The provisioning of science centres with well-equipped laboratories in each and every circuit will play a greater role in effective teaching and learning of science in schools. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

Using a case study approach, this investigation focused on the deliberations and decision-making processes involved in the development of a physical science curriculum to be delivered by interactive videodiscs. The mediating factors that influenced the developmental processes included the participants and their perceptions, their decisions and factors influencing their decisions. The Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Committee of the Texas Learning Technology Group was selected as the subject of this study which used qualitative data collection methods. Data collection included participant observation of curriculum meetings followed by structured interviews of the participants. Document analyses were triangulated with the observations and interviews to ascertain influences on decision-making processes. Developmental processes indicated the emergence of staff and committee procedures. Procedures were influenced by school district and personal philosophies, teacher and student needs, and constraining factors such as state Developmental processes indicated the emergence of staff and committee procedures. Procedures were influenced by school district and personal philosophies, teacher and student needs, and constraining factors such as state mandates. Other influencing factors included research, tradition, and politics. Core curriculum was to be delivered by interactive videodiscs and include remediation and enrichment loops along with laboratory simulations. Participants stressed that students perform traditional laboratory experiments in addition to simulations. This curriculum also addressed the possibility of the course being taught by teachers not certified in physical science.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of curriculum change in teaching and learning of science subjects at schools in Vhembe District. The research also meant to answer the following research objectives on the impact of new changes in curriculum. The first research objective was based on the effects of curriculum changes in the teaching and learning of science. The second research objective was based on the constraints or factors that might be affecting the effectiveness of new changes in teaching and learning of science. The third research objective was based on the monitoring and support on the new changes in science curriculum. Research objective four was addressed as a recommendation. It was about the suggestion for future planning of changes in curriculum. In this era of on-going new developments in curriculum, it was imperative to find out how new changes are affecting teaching and learning of science curriculum even in the most remote parts of the country. The continuous changes that are taking place in science curriculum demand the need for this research. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used as data collection methods using the qualitative method. Schools which participated in the study were selected using purposive sampling. It is revealed in the findings that teachers feel that it is not necessary for them to change the way they teach, especially those who did not receive training on the new curriculum changes during their tertiary education. The findings also indicate that lack of resources impact negatively on the implementation of curriculum reform in teaching and learning of science in many under-resourced schools in rural areas. The findings also reveal that, it is not easy for subject advisors to give relevant support because of inadequate resources and lack of human capacity. According to the research findings, inadequate resources, skills and knowledge and lack of pre-planning on new curriculum development adversely affect the teaching and learning of science in schools. It is therefore recommended that the proposed curriculum development and reform be piloted before it is implemented as proposed in the model for the preparation of effective curriculum changes and development in science. Also, it is important to have functional curriculum support forums at school, circuit and district levels. The provisioning of science centres with well-equipped laboratories in each and every circuit will play a greater role in effective teaching and learning of science in schools. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

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No. of bitstreams: 1 ALVES_Anaí Basso_2014.pdf: 4679981 bytes, checksum: 3b6305c36661b2779784273dcead4fc7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-13 / Não recebi financiamento / From literature searches and semi - structured interviews with educators, science, high school, the state education Sorocaba - SP network, we sought to characterize possible manifestations of gnosiological obstacles that constitute a limit for a content selection in implementation of a critical science curriculum. For the critical science curriculum implementation, participation of the subjects of the school community in building and curriculum implementation review in science, standalone and conscientious manner, collective, socially committed and dialogical, become sociocultural, political and epistemological fundamental requirements. From references to Bachelard, Fleck, and Freire, we sought to deepen understanding about the manifestations of gnosiological obstacles in the school context. To that end, we explored some possible manifestations , such as fear of freedom (Fromm) for the selection of content, the denial of epistemological discontinuity (Delizoicov) for the genesis of knowledge, the claim of scientific truth (PINTO) and epistemological arrogance (Freire). Then we were given some considerations about the methodology of qualitative research that guided data collection. And finally, we systematize possible obstacles gnosiological assumed as for theoretical work, in that educators share showed naive conceptions of knowledge, science and education, for example, the vision of continuous knowledge, cumulative and linear, the content- of the curriculum, the vision of universal and common knowledge to all, denying the specifics of the community, among other visions that can be considered as limits for the implementation of a critical science curriculum. As a proposal for overcoming the obstacles shared by educators, are suggested to be organized new models of teacher education to consider the limits, especially regarding the understanding of curriculum development and selection of contents in critical curricular context. Take practical problem-solving and dialogical freireanas, to question entrenched and culturally shared beliefs can be constituted as alternatives and possibilities for overcoming and mobilization of the conceptions of teachers, pointing to a new model of teaching-learning, critical and committed to a humanizing education and emancipation of the socially oppressed subjects. / A partir de pesquisas bibliográficas e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com educadores, de ciências, do ensino médio, da rede de ensino estadual de Sorocaba-SP, buscou-se caracterizar possíveis manifestações de obstáculos gnosiológicos que se constituam como limite para uma seleção de conteúdos na implementação de um currículo crítico de ciências. Para a implementação curricular crítica em ciências, a participação dos sujeitos da comunidade escolar na construção e implementação curricular crítica em ciências, de modo autônomo e consciente, coletivo, socialmente comprometido e dialógico, se tornam exigências socioculturais, políticas e epistemológicas fundamentais. A partir de referenciais de Bachelard, Fleck, e Freire, buscou-se aprofundar a compreensão a respeito das manifestações de obstáculos gnosiológicos no contexto escolar. Para tanto, foram exploradas algumas possíveis manifestações, como o medo da liberdade (FROMM) para a seleção de conteúdos, a negação da descontinuidade epistemológica (DELIZOICOV) para a gênese do conhecimento, a pretensão da verdade científica (PINTO) e a arrogância epistemológica (FREIRE).Em seguida, foram indicadas algumas considerações a respeito da metodologia da pesquisa qualitativa que orientou a coleta de dados. E, por fim, pudemos sistematizar possíveis obstáculos gnosiológicos, assumidos como referencia teórica para o trabalho, na medida em que os educadores demonstraram compartilhar concepções ingênuas a respeito do conhecimento, da ciência e do ensino, como por exemplo, a visão de conhecimento contínuo, cumulativo e linear; a visão conteúdista do currículo; a visão de conhecimento universal e comum à todos, negando as especificidades das comunidade; entre outras visões que podem ser consideradas como limites para a implementação de um currículo crítico de ciências. Como proposta de superação dos obstáculos compartilhados pelos educadores, são sugeridos que se organizem novos modelos de formação de professores que considerem os limites, sobretudo quanto a compreensão da construção curricular e a seleção de conteúdos no contexto curricular crítico. Tomar práticas problematizadoras e dialógicas freireanas, que questionem as crenças arraigadas e culturalmente compartilhadas, podem se constituir como alternativas e possibilidades de superação e mobilização das concepções dos educadores, apontando para um novo modelo de ensino-aprendizagem, crítico e comprometido com uma educação humanizadora e emancipatória dos sujeitos socialmente oprimidos.

Teachers are an essential link between the curriculum and student achievement. Teachers make instructional decisions that (1) determine the success or failure of a curricular intervention and (2) can result in either alignment or disconnect between the written and enacted curricula. Despite overwhelming evidence linking the success or the failure of a curricular intervention to the classroom teacher, little is known about the instructional decisions teachers make when using a standards-based curriculum. The use of standards-based curriculum is becoming common, therefore, it is essential to know how teachers are using it. This study focused on three questions. First, can the factors that influence instructional decisions be consolidated into manageable, representative, and useful categories? Second, what instructional decisions did six science teachers in a rural central Texas school district make when using the standards-based curriculum, CSCOPE? Finally, what steps did one district take to select and adopt the SBC, CSCOPE? This study found that the factors that influence instructional decisions could be clustered into four categories: (1) working conditions, (2) pedagogical content knowledge, (3) prior experiences, and (4) beliefs. Further, that teachers made instructional decisions both to use CSCOPE as intended and to modify CSCOPE lessons. Modifications to CSCOPE were made despite (1) an administrative mandate not to modify CSCOPE, (2) good administrative support, and (3) the stated intention of these teachers to adhere to CSCOPE. Teachers omitted, replaced and/or supplemented lessons and/or parts of lessons in order to (1) accommodate the needs of their students and (2) prepare students for the state assessment. Finally, several steps taken by Bluecat ISD administrators assisted teachers in using CSCOPE as intended. This study makes three contributions to the educational literature. First, no useful categorization exists of the factors that influence teachers‟ instructional decisions. Chapter II provides an initial categorization of these factors that is manageable, representative, and useful. Second, administrators need to be able to anticipate how teachers may use a standards-based curriculum. Chapter III identifies the instructional decisions made by these six science teachers. Chapter IV identifies the measures put in place to support teachers as they adjusted to CSCOPE.

Views on the nature and relevance of science education have changed significantly over recent decades. This has serious implications for the way in which science is taught in secondary schools, particularly with respect to teaching emerging topics such as biotechnology, which have a socio-scientific dimension and also require novel laboratory skills. It is apparent in current literature that there is a lack of adequate teacher professional development opportunities in biotechnology education and that a significant need exists for researchers to develop a carefully crafted and well supported professional development design which will positively impact on the way in which teachers engage with contemporary science. This study used a retrospective case study methodology to document the recent evolution of modern biotechnology education as part of the changing nature of science education; examine the adoption and implementation processes for biotechnology education by three secondary schools; and to propose an evidence based biotechnology professional development model for science educators. Data were gathered from documents, one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis of these data has led to the proposal of a biotechnology professional development model which considers all of the key components of science professional development that are outlined in the literature, as well as the additional components which were articulated by the educators studied. This research is timely and pertinent to the needs of contemporary science education because of its recognition of the need for a professional development model in biotechnology education that recognizes and addresses the content knowledge, practical skills, pedagogical knowledge and curriculum management components.

This study investigated factors that cause the poor performance of learners in the science subjects at the Ingwavuma Circuit. Using a mixed method design, samples were chosen purposefully in four high schools in the Ingwavuma Circuit. The schools identified were schools that underperformed in the science subjects in the year 2014. Grade 12 science teachers and Grade 12 science learners participated in this study. The data were collected by means of two closed-ended questionnaires. One of the questionnaires was designed for completion by the teachers (3) and one by the learners (98). In addition, structured interviews were conducted with eight teachers and eight learners. The data were analysed using SPSS and manual analysis. The data were recorded and summarized by means of descriptive statistics and was interpreted using literature review. The results of this study indicate that factors that contribute to poor performance are, namely a change in the curriculum, the time allocated for each science topic, the teachers’ teaching load, resources, the educators’ lack of specialized content knowledge, the medium of instruction, the involvement of the parents, poverty, and motivation. From these results recommendations for policy were suggested. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)