O espaço urbano da cidade de Caruaru-PE: laboratório vivo para estudos ecológicos por meio de metodologias ativas

Abstract

The current pedagogical demands for the teaching of biology require the adoption of innovative teaching strategies, beyond the memorization of scientific concepts in such a way that the teaching-learning process occurs in an investigative, contextualized, and integrative way. The dynamics of relating school knowledge with the student´s daily life is a challenging task for the biology teacher, and the urban area in which the students live can be quite enriching space for the construction of knowledge for their integral formation. The present study aimed to build ecological knowledge through active methodologies in high school, having as field of study the different urban spaces of the city of Caruaru-PE. The research procedures occurred in compliance with health protocols to avoid contamination of COVID19. The research is quali-quantitative in nature and had as research strategies the exploratory and participant approach. All the activities were carried out through hybrid teaching, with students from the 1st year of the school named Escola Técnica Nelson Barbalho in the city of Caruaru-PE. It was based on teaching by investigation and the precepts of scientific literacy as a guiding axis. The data were obtained through a conversation circle, participant observation, focus group, and notebook. We developed environmental studies focused on urban spaces, exploring themes such as: deforestation, sanitation and solid waste treatment, environmental conservation of green areas and ecosystem services that were worked through hybrid teaching and active methodologies. As a result of the study, a socio-environmental characterization was made involving the geographic, demographic, political and environmental aspects of the city of Caruaru-PE, generating indicators related to the educational potential in different urban spaces, from which the themes for ecological studies were defined. Visits occurred in urban environments, from which readings of texts and debates were held, working on ecological concepts directing critical analysis and proposals for interventions. The evaluation took place continuously, as well as through the systematization of the results and content analysis. The experience confirmed the viability of using active methodologies as a tool for teaching ecology in urban environments. The study reached with the elaboration of a pedagogical guide recording the course and scope of the activities developed. The emphasis of the instruction manual is in the use of urban spaces for the development of ecological studies in an investigative way and for the production contextualized knowledge in basis education.