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RESUMEN Este artículo presenta los resultados de un cuestionario diagnóstico sobre las percepciones hacia la física, por parte de 104 estudiantes, quienes inician su carrera profesional de Licenciatura en Ciencias Naturales y Educación Ambiental, en una universidad colombiana. Este estudio, se centró en las siguientes categorías: experiencias sobre el aprendizaje de la física, metodología del profesor en la clase de física, dificultades de los estudiantes para aprender física y sugerencias para mejorar su enseñanza. Los resultados reflejan la importancia de explorar y generar estrategias, que permitan optimizar las cuatro dimensiones; por ejemplo, en relación al aprendizaje de la física, los participantes muestran la predominancia del enfoque abstracto. Asimismo, indican la necesidad de incluir en la enseñanza de la física las prácticas experimentales y su contextualización. Se encontraron comentarios positivos hacia el estudio de la física, cuando los estudiantes la han cursado desde los primeros grados de la educación secundaria, lo que sugiere que una enseñanza más temprana y cualitativa, puede favorecer el interés por la enseñanza de la física.
ABSTRACT This article presents the results of a diagnostic questionnaire about perceptions towards physics, by 104 students who start their professional careers as future graduates in Natural Sciences and Environmental Education in a Colombian university. This study focused on the following categories: experiences on learning of physics, methodology of teacher in the physics class, difficulties of the students to learn physics and suggestions to improve their teaching. The results reflect importance of exploring and generating strategies that optimize the four dimensions; for example, in relation to the learning of physics, the participants show the predominance of the abstract approach. Likewise, they indicate the need to include experimental practices and their contextualization in teaching of physics. Positive comments were found towards the study of physics when students have studied it from the first grades of secondary basic education, which suggests that an earlier and qualitative education may favor interest in the teaching of physics.
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Astrobiology is the study of the origin of life on Earth and the distribution of life in the Universe. Its multidisciplinary approach, social and philosophical implications, and appeal within the discipline and beyond make astrobiology a uniquely qualified subject for general science education. In this study, student knowledge and opinions on astrobiology topics were investigated. Eighty-nine students in their last year of compulsory education (age 15) completed a written questionnaire that consisted of 10 open questions on the topic of astrobiology. The results indicate that students have significant difficulties understanding the origin of life on Earth, despite exposure to the topic by way of the assigned textbooks. The students were often unaware of past or present achievements in the search for life within the Solar System and beyond, topics that are far less commonly seen in textbooks. Student questionnaire answers also indicated that students had problems in reasoning and critical thinking when asked for their opinions on issues such as the potential for life beyond Earth, the question of whether UFOs exist, or what our place is in the Universe. Astrobiology might help initiate student awareness as to current thinking on these matters and should be considered for general science education. Key Words: Astrobiology-Students' views-Science education. Astrobiology 17, 91-99.
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Exobiologia/educação , Conhecimento , Instituições Acadêmicas , Percepção Social , Estudantes , Adolescente , Comunicação , Humanos , Origem da Vida , Sistema Solar , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The science learning process improves when the contents are connected to students' lives. Particle physics has had a great impact in our society in the last years and has changed the theoretical picture about matter fundamental dynamics. Thus, we think that academic contents about matter components and interactions should be updated. With this study we aim to characterize the level of knowledge of high school students about this topic. We built a test with questions about classical atomic models, particle physics, recent discoveries, social implications and students opinions about it. Contrary to our first suspicion, students' answers show a high variability. They have new physics ideas and show a great interest towards modern concepts. We suggest including an updated view of this topic as part of the curriculum.
