Aquímica em cenas de crime: Experimentando com a química forense no ensino médio

Abstract

Chemistry is a science dedicated to the investigation of matter and its transformations. Within the natural sciences field, it aims to elucidate a wide range of everyday phenomena that are relevant to society. However, it is often perceived by many students as a difficult and not important subject, which can be attributed to factors such as the complexity of the concepts and the teaching methodologies employed, which often focus on memorization and repetition. Among the methodologies that can enhance the teaching and learning process, we highlight the use of investigative experimentation related to Forensic Chemistry. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the potential of investigative experimental activities, associated with aspects of Forensic Chemistry, in the learning process of the chemistry subject. This research adopts a qualitative approach, classified as exploratory in terms of objectives, and defined as pedagogical research according to the procedures. The study was conducted in a state school located in the city of Areia, PB, involving 43 students from two classes in the third year of high school. To facilitate the data obtaining, we developed a Didactic Sequence (DS) comprising nine instructional moments. The data obtained were analyzed using content analysis, resulting in three analytical categories: (I) “First thing I saw that was good in Chemistry”: Forensic Chemistry in high school; (II) “Solving crimes, learning Chemistry”: investigative experimentation based on aspects of Forensic Chemistry; and (III) “After the collection and forensic investigations, we reached the following conclusion”: reflecting the relevance of chemical knowledge in crime resolution. The results revealed that investigative experimentation associated with Forensic Chemistry facilitated the understanding of chemical concepts and made the teaching process more engaging, dynamic, and participatory. Therefore, we conclude that innovative methodologies, such as investigative experimentation, have considerable potential to improve the interest of students and enable a better understanding of the concepts covered in class, which is uncommon in traditional teaching methods.