Tecnologias móveis e sem fio nos processos de ensino e de aprendizagem em Química: uma experiência no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Motivated by the increasing use of different mobile and wireless technologies, especially smartphones and tablets among students as well as the public policy of tablets insertion in the context of public schools, this research investigates how mobile and wireless technologies may appear to contribute to the processes of teaching and learning Chemistry from the perspective of mobile learning and BYOD in the context of initial teacher training in IFRS - Campus Porto Alegre. The research aims to understand how mobile and wireless technologies can contribute to the processes of teaching and learning Chemistry from the perspective of mobile learning and BYOD in order to enhance the development of educational practices in the context of initial teacher training in IFRS - Campus Porto Alegre. Some other objectives of the research are: a) to identify the Natural Sciences undergraduates’ digital technological profile, mainly with regard to the access and use of digital technologies ; b ) to search and select the applications for tablets, with potential for the teaching and learning processes in Chemistry, available in virtual digital store; c ) to establish evaluation criteria for the Apps in order to know them and classify them in terms of applicability; d ) to design, develop and evaluate pedagogical practice in Chemistry with applications for tablets and smartphones in the context of mobile learning and BYOD. Taking into consideration the different characteristics of the research problems achieved, we opted for the development of an exploratory research, qualitative and quantitative, based on Design Research, where the artifact was a pedagogical practice developed through a complementary activity with a group of ten undergraduates. The instruments and materials which have been used are: questionnaires, “workshops”, interviews, audio recordings, photos, video and observation. For data analysis, we used the text analysis discourse (GALIAZZI; MORAES, 2011). In order to interpret the data and for better understanding of the problem and research objectives, we sought theoretical foundation in the following authors: Galiazzi, Moraes (2002); Saccol, Schlemmer & Barbosa (2010); Lemos (2003); Giordan (2008). The main results of this research show that the licensees have broad access to digital technologies and the Internet, but its use was basically restricted to communication. There are several Apps for specific tablets and smartphones concerning Chemistry education, and general applications that have potential for the development of teaching practices available on virtual digital stores. However, after establishing criteria and evaluation of these Apps we selected some of them which were free, multiplatform, and with contents preferably in Portuguese. A pedagogical practice was designed from the technological profile of undergraduates and from selected applications considering the perspective of mobile learning and BYOD developed through a complementary activity. In that complementary activity the participants experienced the mobile and wireless technologies in the educational context and developed Chemistry learning projects in the context of mobile and wireless technologies.