Degree: Doctor

Affiliation(s):

FCUP

Publications
Showing 5 latest publications. Total publications: 48
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1. Student participation in a coastal water quality citizen science project and its contribution to the conceptual and procedural learning of chemistry, Araujo, JL Morais, C Paiva, JC in CHEMISTRY EDUCATION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, 2022, ISSN: 1109-4028,  Volume: 23, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos  DOI: 10.1039/d1rp00190f P-00V-D47
Abstract The active participation of citizens in scientific research, through citizen science, has been proven successful. However, knowledge on the potential of citizen science within formal chemistry learning, at the conceptual and procedural levels, remains insufficiently explored. We developed a citizen science project - PVC: Perceiving the Value of Chemistry behind water and microplastics - which sought to involve students in monitoring the physicochemical parameters of coastal water quality, through the detection of microplastics in these waters, in addition to the qualitative identification of plastic contaminants on beaches. The project was conducted throughout the 2018/2019 school year and involved 442 middle school students (Key Stage 3 (KS3) aged 12-14, in Portuguese schools) and 9 chemistry teachers, in the northern coastal region of Portugal. The data on learning outcomes was collected through knowledge tests, applied after project conclusion, and was then compared to data collected up to six months later (retention test). In addition, interviews were conducted with participants, and researchers' field notes were recorded and analyzed. Data analysis suggests the PVC project promoted conceptual chemistry learning related to the analysis of physicochemical water parameters (pH, temperature, turbidity, salinity, nitrate and nitrite concentrations and dissolved oxygen), as well as polymers (polymer types, formation and structure). A positive knowledge retention was registered a few months after the project conclusion. At a process level, participants learned laboratory techniques (sieving, gravity and reduced pressure filtrations and crystallization) and the handling of laboratory materials. Furthermore, teachers recognized that their students' participation in the PVC project fostered the development of their argumentation skills, as well as their reflexive and critical thinking skills. The ability to communicate ideas and results, along with the development of students' digital skills, was also mentioned.

2. A ciência cidadã na promoção da consciencialização químico-ambiental dos alunos, no contexto da poluição marinha por (micro)plásticos, Araújo, JL; Morais, C Paiva, JC in Revista Electrónica Educare, 2022, ISSN: 1409-4258,  Volume: 27, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, unpaywall  DOI: 10.15359/ree.27-1.15845 P-00X-KMS
Abstract <jats:p>Objetivo. Avaliar de que modo as tarefas desenvolvidas pelos alunos no âmbito do projeto educacional de ciência cidadã PVC de monitorização da qualidade das águas costeiras contribuíram para a promoção da sua consciencialização para a problemática do lixo marinho, em particular, da poluição do oceano por plásticos e por microplásticos e para a importância da Química na sociedade. Metodologia. A etapa do projeto que aqui se apresenta era constituída por um conjunto de seis tarefas assíncronas, realizadas com mediação digital através da plataforma Moodle que decorreu durante o ano letivo 2018/2019 e envolveu 442 alunos e nove professores do 3.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico da região norte litoral de Portugal. Dados sobre o impacto na consciencialização dos alunos para os contextos abordados foram recolhidos a partir dos registos elaborados pelos alunos em cada tarefa, e foram, posteriormente, analisados com recurso à técnica de análise de conteúdo. Discussão. Da análise destes resultados emergiram indicadores do contributo positivo do projeto PVC na consciencialização dos alunos para a poluição dos ambientes marinhos por (micro)plásticos bem como na sensibilização para o papel da Química na sociedade, tendo os alunos demonstrado opiniões positivas face a esta ciência e reconhecido as suas inter-relações com outras áreas da ciência e da tecnologia. Conclusão. Constatou-se assim que, através da exploração de contextos atuais e relevantes, que os projetos de ciência cidadã apresentam um grande potencial na promoção da sensibilização dos alunos para as temáticas químico-ambientais.</jats:p>

3. STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE: THE CONTRIBUTION OF A CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT FOR MONITORING COASTAL WATER QUALITY AND (MICRO)PLASTICS, Araujo, JL Morais, C Paiva, JC in JOURNAL OF BALTIC SCIENCE EDUCATION, 2021, ISSN: 1648-3898,  Volume: 20, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.33225/jbse/21.20.881 P-00V-T25
Abstract The promotion of positive attitudes towards science is an important goal of science education. This research aimed to identify students' attitudes towards science and whether their participation within a citizen science project has contributed to positive attitudinal changes. So, an attitudinal scale was developed, validated, and applied (as a pre and post-test) to 574 students aged between 12 and 14 years old. Positive attitudes towards science were recorded from the outset among children of both groups. Students' participation within the experimental group enhanced relevant positive attitudinal changes at the level of the critical analysis dimension, related to the perception of skills development such as questioning or critical thinking. Furthermore, positive attitudinal changes were achieved within the affinity dimension, related to perceived self-efficacy and appreciation of science and science classes. Positive attitudinal changes towards science among students indicate that citizen science contributes to enhance affective and attitudinal domains of their scientific literacy.

4. The Social Representations of the Internet: A Systematic Review of Literature Towards a Groundbreaking Research Agenda, Moreira, L Paiva, JC Morais, C in Papers on Social Representations, 2021, ISSN: 1021-5573,  Volume: 30, 
Article,  Indexed in: scopus  P-00V-7YW
Abstract In this paper, we draw upon the empirical research about the social representations of the Internet in order to propose a theoretically-driven agenda. A systematic review of empirical, peer-reviewed literature was conducted. The corpus of analysis consisted of 12 papers which fell into five themes: (i) the Internet and quality of life; (ii) the Internet as a moving representation; (iii) the Internet and ageing; (iv) the Internet and mobile culture; and (v) the Internet and education. The research about the social representations of the Internet is still limited in number, depth and breadth. Notwithstanding, it conveys important insights about the evolving, symbolically-loaded meanings of the Internet as a prosthesis of knowledge and as a means of communication, with consequences for identity and intergroup relations, contributing to expand the theoretical and empirical debates on the field of digital media. The research agenda for studying the Internet from a social representations’ perspective includes three major theoretical foci: social cognition; social identity and intergroup relations; and social thinking in times of big data. Social representations can provide the field with powerful conceptual tools to learn how people deal with novelty and to navigate through huge quantity of data generated online. In change, digital media can contribute to further social representations theory developments. To learn how communication flows on the Internet and how people make sense of the Internet and Internet-related phenomena (including automatically generated contents, mass and social media accounts) equals to set the clock for the present time schedule. © 2021. Moreira, Luciano, Paiva, João C. and Morais, Carla.

5. Developing and Implementing a Low-Cost, Portable Pedagogical Kit to Foster Students' Water Quality Awareness and Engagement by Sampling Coastal Waters and Analyzing Physicochemical Properties, Araujo, JL Morais, C Paiva, JC in JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, 2020, ISSN: 0021-9584,  Volume: 97, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00333 P-00S-N44
Abstract Contextualized and socially relevant hands-on activities are an effective way to promote students' involvement in the construction of knowledge. Considering the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the preservation of water resources is crucial for the sustainable development of a country. Therefore, the PVC project was implemented in the context of water quality monitoring. There were 440 students and 9 chemistry teachers involved. A low-cost portable pedagogical kit was developed in order to determine the temperature, turbidity, pH, concentration of nitrates and nitrites, percentage of dissolved oxygen, salinity, and presence of microplastics in coastal water samples. The results indicate that the hands-on activities have contributed to the learning of chemical contents related to water quality parameters. Finally, the commitment, motivation, and autonomy of the participating students should be highlighted.