Abstract

DYSZEL, Facundo; ESPINOZA, Ana María  and  ACEVEDO, Cecilia. Experiments in Science Classes: Transactions of Meaning in a Collaborative Work Group. Rev. latinoam. estud. educ. [online]. 2023, vol.53, n.1, pp.369-395.  Epub Oct 02, 2023. ISSN 2448-878X.  https://doi.org/10.48102/rlee.2023.53.1.529.

In this paper, we study how the intentionality to propose an experimental situation in a science lesson was mobilized. This situation initiated a didactic sequence about light that was implemented in different elementary classrooms (belonging to a socio-educational program from the City of Buenos Aires) and was conceived in a working group where teachers and researchers collaborate. We aim to explore the potentiality of this collaborative modality to promote the construction of ideas on teaching and learning science. We present a case study and we focus on the interactions between the different positions of the collaborative group members as they were involved in the co-design, implementation, and analysis of the sequence. We identified that, initially, the group discussions were centered on the material aspects of the lesson design; but, after the first implementations, the shared reflection about the classroom scenes made it possible to problematize the teachers’ interventions, the interpretation of the students’ ideas and the assessment of alternatives on how to promote student engagement. This motivated modifications in further implementations and redefinitions of the purpose to present the experiment in class. Finally, we were able to understand some reasons that obstruct teachers’ engagement with academic research proposals.

Keywords : teacher researcher relationship; collaborative work; primary education; science education; science experiments.