Abstract

MORALES, Laura Mariela; MAZZITELLI, Claudia Alejandra  and  OLIVERA, Adela del Carmen. The teaching and learning of Physics and Chemistry in secondary level from the students' opinion. Rev. electrón. investig. educ. cienc. [online]. 2015, vol.10, n.2, pp.11-19. ISSN 1850-6666.

In this paper we present some of the results obtained in a study made to teachers and students of Physics and Chemistry, from the perspective of the social representations (SRs) theory. We begin with the difficulties noticed in classes of Natural Sciences, which are manifested, among other indicators, in:  the disinterest in learning sciences, the low achievement of the students, the lack of participation and the decrease in the number of students who attend careers related to Physics and to Chemistry. Taking this into account, we offered a space for reflection on this topic for teachers of Physics and Chemistry and carried out a series of activities, among them an inquiry about the SRs of their students. By implementing two Likert scales we analyzed these SRs about the teaching and learning of the disciplines mentioned. The results obtained have allowed us to identify the students' SRs and to try to infer from them aspects which may act as facilitators or as obstacles in the teaching and learning process. This makes evident the need that teachers know the SRs of their students so that they provide input for reflection and for optimizing the educational practice.

Keywords : Teaching; Learning; Physics and Chemistry; Social representations; Students.