Abstract

RIUS DE LA POLA, Pilar. Teaching Chemistry: A Matter of Attitudes?. Educ. quím [online]. 2011, vol.22, n.2, pp.123-133. ISSN 0187-893X.

This article focuses on the different conceptions and practices of the notion of attitude, based on an ethic of leadership, responsability, justice and passion for teaching, which may enhace teachers performance on the field of Chemistry. Attitude is defined as soul, spirit, principle of human activities;also courage,energy and strength.The teacher is an agent who supposedly has achieved these qualities and uses them in benefit of education; I propose that attitude is the source, will, as well as disposition, passion (and whatever it takes) to guide, motivate and support the students in the pursuit of educational objectives. My claim is that in addition to the proper attitude to enhance learning purposes, some strategic aptitudes are requested in a teacher: a set of educational tools, a solid knowledge in the area, and equally important an ethic that allows for interventions on a kind of leadership which fosters generosity, justice, and tolerance, I am trying to elaborate on a notion of "love for teaching", based around the development of the set of attitudes here presented. Within this pedagogy I discuss some desirable attitudes in Higher Education mostly involved with the teaching of Science and Chemistry. I present some examples of these attitudes in the Chemistry Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the overall educational context and particularly in a Program of Peer education and inside the classroom.

Keywords : attitude; education; teaching; higher education; leadership; peer education; classroom work.

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