Sequência didática sobre o tema sociocientífico irradiação de alimentos para o estudo do conteúdo de radioatividade

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to verify possible contributions of a didactic sequence involving the theme socioscientific Food Irradiation, considering elements of the Science-Technology-Society (CTS) approach, to evidence of students learning in the 1st year of high school. The sequence was applied in a private school in Recife, Pernambuco, with the purpose of promoting the students understanding of the Radioactivity content. The nature of the study is approximated to a qualitative-aplication research. As instruments of data collection, two questionnaires with closed questions about radioactivity and food irradiation. The results of the analysis of the diagnostic questionnaire indicate that, in general, the students do not have a satisfactory understanding of radioactivity and food irradiation, which are far from the formal conceptualizations related to school chemical knowledge. We believe that the activities of the sequence, such as the dialogic lectures, the exhibition and discussion of documentary videos, and the resolution of questions from the guiding questionnaire by the students contributed to a better understanding of the content studied, which was evidenced by the results of the analysis of the final questionnaire, in which there was a significant increase of mostly satisfactory answers. The didactic sequence developed from a socio-scientific theme Food Irradiation, and the introduction of guiding questions can represent a specific dimension of the CTS approach, contributing to bring conceptual and contextual elements to the study of radioactivity, and configure itself as an effective strategy for chemistry classes in Secondary Education.