O ensino da física numa abordagem experimental: resignificando a prática docente

Abstract

This work presents research and experimentation in physics as a methodological way to facilitate the learning and understanding of basic concepts of Mechanics that many students consider difficult to understand. The proposed activities were undertaken in a Public High School with students from the 1st year. The proposed activities included ten units, each consisting of six classes of 45 minutes. The research and experimental activities employed in our research are suggested by most physics teachers and educators cited in this work. The present proposal complies with the National Curriculum. Students formed groups of four in order to carry out research involving textbooks or the Internet. Posters, whiteboard or power-point were used in the presentation of their results. Two questionnaires answered by the students, one before and the other one after each trial, provided clues that led to our findings. At the end of each unit there was a debate/discussion between teacher and students to evaluate the learning process. After all units were concluded, both teachers and students answered an evaluation questionnaire about the methodology used. Graphs and tables summarize the analysis with their conclusions. It was found that the trial allowed students to better understand the concepts and laws of physics, covered during the tests. The final educational product is a manual of experiments on mechanics, which explore practical experimental and problem situations in kinematic, dynamic and static.