The chemistry teaching and the high school student: A case study in the state basic education of Esteio City, Brazil

Abstract

It is the constant object of discussion and reflection in the academic environment the students' difficulties in understanding the contents and concepts of the chemistry discipline in basic education and the pedagogical practice itself develop in a contextualized way. Considering this premise, this study aimed to investigate and understand the factors that hinder the teaching process of Chemistry in the 2nd and 3rd years of high school of a state public school in Esteio/RS, emphasize the methodology adopted by the teacher the active participation of students in the classroom and their relation with chemistry teaching. For this exploratory research, a qualitative and quantitative field study was conducted through on-site observation of 15 hours/class and subsequent application of a questionnaire to students. The data, interpreted and reflected based on the observation and authors of the area, were exposed through percentage charts, considering the total of respondents (15 students in the second graders and 8 students in the third graders in high school). At the end, the results of the analysis of the answers given by the students reveal aspects that indicate that there is a great nonconformity in the teaching process of this subject and an inconsistency in the pedagogical saying and doing, corroborating the current educational system, which is not consistent with an expressive learning in chemistry teaching, deserving a deep reflection. Therefore, the new teaching methodologies, as well as philosophical and epistemological theories, emerged in recent decades, still failed to bring about changes in the old pedagogical practices.