Education through research: an investigative experiment in Physics teaching and learning

Abstract

The article presents an introduction to research experiment carried out in the Science Teaching Methods course part of a Masters Degree program emphasizing teacher-researcher education. The experiment used a qualitative methodological approach, applied to Elementary and High Schools where participant observation technique was used during the experimental activities in the field of electricity. The results show how the education through research was experienced, which comprised activities in research project elaboration, data analyses and interpretation, and culminating with the collective elaboration of the present paper. The relevance given to this kind of education is noticeable, with promising consequences on teaching and research activities. In this process the importance of the pupils' background knowledge was taken into account, having in mind the improvement of the teacher/researcher pedagogical practice as well as pupil learning possibilities.