Publications

Abstract <jats:p>Este artículo presenta una propuesta de secuencia didáctica dirigida a estudiantes de secundaria. Se propone la exploración de indicadores ácido-base naturales con el fin de caracterizar diferentes soluciones acuosas. Luego, los estudiantes se enfrentan a un escenario desafiante e investigativo: la adición de lejía a un refresco de cola resulta en una reacción química que también implica cambios de color. Basándose en el protocolo desarrollado, los estudiantes llevarán a cabo ensayos experimentales para determinar si el refresco de cola es un indicador ácido-base. Para explicar los resultados obtenidos, los estudiantes llevarán a cabo una investigación cuyas conclusiones llevarán a la introducción del tema de las reacciones de oxidación-reducción. Con esta propuesta se busca fomentar la participación activa de los estudiantes en la construcción de su aprendizaje a través de actividades prácticas y experimentales, utilizando materiales cotidianos para promover su autonomía y, al mismo tiempo, estimular la curiosidad científica y el desarrollo de habilidades esenciales para la educación del siglo XXI. Además, el conocimiento que este enfoque didáctico contribuye significativamente a una comprensión más profunda de los conceptos fundamentales de la Química, promoviendo reflexiones más profundas sobre su relevancia en la sociedad actual.</jats:p>

Abstract BackgroundRecent literature underscores the importance of programming in preparing students for the challenges of a technologically evolving society.PurposeThis study explores the integration of Arduino programming in a non-formal education context, considering its potential to promote interdisciplinary approaches - particularly in Physics and ICT subjects - and foster students' interest and motivation.SampleEighty Portuguese middle school students participated in the practical activity designed.Design and MethodsDuring the activity, fundamental concepts of electronics, circuits, and Arduino programming were introduced and explored. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their interests, motivations, and experiences. The data were supplemented with field notes collected by the research team.ResultsFindings show significant student interest in exploring Arduino programming, despite facing challenges such as coding difficulties and limited familiarity with electronic components and circuits. Students expressed enthusiasm for engaging in future activities related to the topic and supported its interdisciplinary integration and they recognized its potential to improve learning outcomes and develop essential competencies and skills.ConclusionPositive indicators have emerged from this research regarding the implementation of this innovative approach, which could be transposed into a formal education context, such as Physics. This approach not only captivates students' interest but also empowers them to thrive in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Abstract Objective. To evaluate how the tasks carried out by the students in the scope of the PVC educational citizen science project for monitoring the quality of coastal waters contributed to raising their awareness of the problems of marine litter, in particular, the pollution of the ocean by plastics and microplastics, and the importance of chemistry in society. Methods. The project stage here presented consisted of six asynchronous tasks, conducted with digital mediation through the Moodle platform. The project took place in the 2018/2019 school year and involved 442 students and nine chemistry teachers from a middle school in the northern coastal region of Portugal. Data on the impact on students' awareness of the contexts considered were collected from the outputs the students produced in each task. The data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. Discussion. From this analysis emerged indicators of the PVC project's positive contribution to raising students' awareness of the pollution of marine environments by (micro)plastics, as well as raising awareness of the role of chemistry in society. The students expressed positive opinions toward this science and recognized its links with other areas of science and technology. Conclusion. Thus, it was found that citizen science projects significantly promote students' awareness of chemical-environmental subjects by exploring current and relevant contexts.

Abstract In the laboratory, data acquisition systems are important, as they allow us to easily and precisely collect data. In this sense, Arduino emerges as an automatic data acquisition device with great potential, due to its low cost and high versatility. In this work, we describe the development of an experimental apparatus, with automatic data acquisition using Arduino, to determine the variation of the solubility of potassium nitrate in water as a function of temperature. Ten chemistry teachers in initial training were involved in developing and validating that alternative experimental procedure for secondary school. Pre-service chemistry teachers determined the solubility of the aforementioned salt at different temperatures, using both a method for the study of the solubility of salts that does not resort to automatic data acquisition as well as the alternative method proposed in this work. The experimental solubility curves of potassium nitrate were plotted for both situations. The experimental results obtained by both methods are similar and very close to the values reported in the literature. Moreover, chemistry teachers in initial training recognize that the proposed method can promote the development of secondary students' skills such as greater mastery in assembling electrical circuits and in the use of technological devices or software for automatic data acquisition and processing. Thus, the results suggest the feasibility of the developed experimental method for its implementation in an educational context with secondary students and prove it to be an asset for the education of students, when compared to the traditionally used method.

Abstract The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is profoundly shaping our society. Among various AI tools, ChatGPT stands out for its user-friendly nature and wide accessibility to the public. However, despite their countless potential benefits, these tools also face significant challenges, especially in sensitive areas like Education. In this publication, we conduct a prompt engineering essay with ChatGPT to understand the potential and challenges of this tool in designing new, high-quality chemistry laboratory activities. We aimed to assess its performance in proposing scientifically and pedagogically suitable protocols for chemistry laboratory activities based on the 11th-grade Portuguese curriculum. The initial exploratory essay was conducted to fine-tune the prompt, followed by the analysis of proposals for the five mandatory laboratory activities in this subject. ChatGPT demonstrates the ability to interpret and reproduce the specialized symbolic language of chemistry, effectively conceptualizing problems and laboratory activities in a clear and understandable manner for a broader audience (i.e., chemistry students). However, it is crucial to highlight the scientific-pedagogical limitations concerning the accuracy and appropriateness of the proposed laboratory activities, particularly in terms of safety and sustainability. Therefore, the use of AI in education should be approached critically and reflectively. While AI holds immense potential to transform the dynamics of teaching and learning, the role and expertise of the Chemistry teacher remain of the utmost importance to ensure the scientific and pedagogical quality of Chemistry classes. © 2024 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.