History of science, Historical texts, Didactic activities, Gold exploration
Abstract
Reflections on the reality of Science teaching in Brazil show us that teachers put strong emphasis on subjects that ultimately lead to the formation of professionals with certain skills and competence characteristic of a scientist. However, this is not an aspect that is exclusive to Brazil. Geology teaching in Brazil is mostly focused on the reporting of scientific practice found in textbooks. Generally, Science is presented in an idealized manner or, less frequently, with great emphasis on field geology or on experiments presented to the students as self-evident. Authors with knowledge of other cultures have discussed this subject. They suggest changes in the emphasis of Science teaching in those cultures. The main goal of this study is to promote a broad debate, between teachers from high school to elementary university levels, on the role of epistemology and the history of Geology in the teaching of Science, as well as to suggest alternative ways of teaching. This is the scope of the discipline Methodology of geological teaching, which discipline is part of the specialization course in Gemology, offered by the Department of Geology of the Federal University of Ouro Preto. To reach that goal we have designed a unit of teaching using the history of geology as a base in the teaching of Science. In this paper we present the results of this experience. We took an example from the history of gold exploration in the town of Ouro Preto, to illustrate the manner through which those activities promoted knowledgement, to understand the evolution of the methods applied in the geological sciences as well as the role of epistemology and the history of geology on the teaching of geological sciences.
