O uso de nanomateriais no ensino de óptica: uma proposta experimental a partir da aprendizagem baseada em investigação

Abstract

Physics education in Brazil, especially in basic education, faces problems related to student demotivation and a disconnect between the content and the students' social reality. In this context, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (N&N) emerge as a solution to stimulate interest in physics classes and develop scientific literacy. This work aims to analyze the application of a didactic intervention using Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) as a didactic model to introduce N&N concepts, connecting them to optics content by exploring the Tyndall effect and light absorption in silver nanoparticles. The methodology adopted is "Action Research," which uses qualitative methods. To this end, a transposition was carried out with a second-year high school class in a public school in the city of Caucaia (CE). This intervention was organized in three phases: i) application of a pre-class diagnostic assessment; ii) an experimental activity based on an investigative-pedagogical cycle, in which students acted as detectives by analyzing samples using lasers; iii) application of a post-class assessment. The pre-class results indicated a fragmented understanding of the nature of light, however, the post-class results revealed significant progress, with 76.5% of students understanding the relationship between the nanometric scale and physical properties, and 64.5% correctly assimilating the concept of Surface Plasmonic Resonance. Therefore, it was evident that the investigative methodology contributed to the scientific literacy of the students and proved to be an effective strategy to spark students' interest in the subject of Physics.