Thinking the Nature of Science and Technology from experimental investigative activities in a Professional Training School

Abstract

Based on an experimental open design activity (BORGES, 2002), we tried to form a research group with mid-level students of a Professional Training School (called innovation cell) to develop a technical-scientific research project. The students proposed project was the construction of a solar collector for heating water using disposable materials with low power recycling. It was intended to investigate the reflections undertaken by the students throughout this activity on the Nature of Science, Technology and Nature as an experimental open environment can facilitate the emergence of creativity. The survey was used in various ways to collect data on the educational process, from analysis of notes made by the teacher guiding the cell during the activities until the completion conducting a focus group at the end of the project.