Trabalhando com conhecimentos nutricionais: uma aproximação à atividade científica nos processos e atitudes

Abstract

The methodology most used in Brazilian schools for science teaching, which we can call traditional, focuses on the presentation of definitions of scientific concepts as ready, unquestionable, crystallized and absolutes. This method requires the student to repeat definitions to answer questions in proposed assessments. We believe that this practice can distract students from the scientific culture as opposed to including them, since students are often not encouraged to a critical and participatory formation in which they could develop abilities of initiative, argument and autonomy. In addition to methodologies and approaches to teaching, the tools used to evaluate students' development, such as written assessments, can leave aside the valuation of attitudes and values that can bring them closer to scientific culture and contribute to an integral formation. In this study we suggest an activity with an investigative approach to the teaching and learning of scientific concepts related to the processes involved in the physiology of the digestive system and human nutrition, aiming at the approach to the scientific concepts related to human nutrition. In addition, we propose a qualitative evaluation that seeks to include procedural and attitudinal learning as an alternative to the diversification of traditional practices and their evaluation instruments. To implement these strategies in teaching practice, we developed a Sequence of Investigative Teaching (SIT), which was applied to students of a public school of the state network in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state. The results indicate that the SIT used can contribute to the progressive advancement of students in relation to the understanding of concepts and processes involved in human nutrition and the approximation of the same with the scientific culture observed through process and attitudinal evaluation. From this purpose, as a final product of this study, a material was elaborated that contains the developed activities, as well as reflections and orientations that will help the teachers in the scientific approach of the students, in order to contribute with strategies for the improvement of the science teaching.