Defense
Student: Breno de Matos Barbosa Sales
Program: Professional Master's Program in Astronomy Teaching
Title: "Developing a Basic Textbook for Teaching Astronomy in the Second Stage of Elementary Education"
Advisor: Profa. Dra. Thais dos Santos Silva
Judging Comitee:
- Profa. Dra. Thais dos Santos Silva (Presidente e Orientadora - UEFS)
- Profa. Dra. Márcia Akemi Yamasoe - IAG/USP
- Prof. Dr. Marçal Evangelista Santana - UEFS
Other Members:
- Profa. Dra. Thayse Adineia Pacheco - UFRGS
Abstract:
Astronomy is a field of knowledge deeply connected to the development of human civilization. This work sought to investigate the difficulties of teaching this science in Brazil and to support the development of didactic material in the form of a book dedicated to the education and dissemination of astronomical science. Astronomy in the curricula has shown its ups and downs, with the PCN and BNCC documents helping to incorporate it into the content of elementary and secondary education in recent decades. We investigated the conditions of teacher training and the quality of textbooks for basic education through quantitative and qualitative research, based on data from the Basic Education School Census and the e-MEC. We surveyed the qualification rates of science teachers in elementary and secondary education, which represent the portion of active teachers who have adequate training to teach, as well as the availability of courses and vacancies in undergraduate programs, which can be translated into an increase in the overall quality of the teaching staff. Searching the literature for the portion of teachers who were exposed to Astronomy disciplines in their undergraduate studies, we found a serious imbalance in the training of science teachers for teaching astronomical content in basic education. The textbook proved to be more promising in the results of the PNLD 2024 for elementary education. When compared to similar data presented in articles from the literature, we found advances in the investment of authors and publishers, increasing the presence of Astronomy topics in science collections. On the other hand, high school textbooks proved to be much more superficial. Based on these findings, we conclude that a dedicated book could indeed be opportune. To ensure that this product adequately meets the needs of teachers and students, we collected the opinions and expectations of teachers through an initial questionnaire. We used this data to shape the structure, language, illustrations, and activities of the book. The material was then applied and tested by teachers, who verified its quality and feasibility of use in the classroom, helping to refine the final product. Although there is still much to be done to make Astronomy an integral and appreciated part of school life, a good book can play an important role in popularizing Astronomy in schools.
Keywords: Astronomy teaching, BNCC, Teacher training, PNLD, Science textbooks