Abstract

JUBERT, Alicia; POGLIANI, Cristina; TOCCI, Ana María  and  VALLEJO, Alcira. E-learning course for first year Engineering students. Educ. quím [online]. 2012, vol.23, n.1, pp.16-22. ISSN 0187-893X.

One of the difficulties in learning chemistry faced by students of the Engineering Faculty that have not approved the first course and need to course it again is to answer questions such as ¿Why do we need to learn chemistry? ¿Why do I have to learn this, if I know the issue? This led to face a methodology based on the implementation of the "Teaching for Understanding" that was applied in an e-learning chemistry course, with evaluation attendance. We designed a didactic sequence centered on understanding, using "alternative energies" as a central theme and developing four generative topics. Then it was considered necessary to describe the steps for the adaptation of the methodology by designing a teaching sequence through the use of ICT, employing a guided inquiry process with tutorial guide and discussion in on-line forums until the stage of synthesis was reached, which reflects the level of understanding achieved by students. The purpose of this strategy is to improve the performances of understanding in most of the students, and the results encourage us to continue with this proposal and develop other similar ones.

Keywords : general chemistry; teaching for understanding; e-learning; alternative energies.