An assessment of the history of science content of chemistry textbooks

• Grant number: 07/02542-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2007
• End date: September 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Alves Porto
• Grantee: Paulo Alves Porto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project aims at analyzing the historical content of chemistry textbooks, against the theoretical background offered by the new historiography of science. A comprehensive approach is proposed, by not restricting the analysis to a specific topic of the history of chemistry, but aiming at the historiographical conceptions which underlie the historical inserts found in chemistry textbooks. The research will encompass two classes of textbooks: high school, and undergraduate chemistry textbooks. Results are expected to contribute to the debate about the historical approach to science teaching, and also to a critical assessment of Brazilian curricular guidelines for chemistry teaching. These guidelines recommend the development of abilities related to the reflection about historical and cultural aspects of scientific knowledge. The analysis of textbooks will allow an assessment of the actual impact of the guidelines (if any), and if the textbooks approaches are able to meet the expected learning benefits. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARIA ANGÉLICA MOREIRA FERNANDES; PAULO ALVES PORTO. Investigando a presença da história da ciência em livros didáticos de Química Geral para o ensino superior. Química Nova, v. 35, n. 2, p. 420-429, 2012-00-00. (07/02542-4)

HELENA S. A. LEITE; PAULO A. PORTO. ANÁLISE DA ABORDAGEM HISTÓRICA PARA A TABELA PERIÓDICA EM LIVROS DE QUÍMICA GERAL PARA O ENSINO SUPERIOR USADOS NO BRASIL NO SÉCULO XX. Química Nova, v. 38, n. 4, p. 580-587, 2015-05-00. (07/02542-4)

VIANA‚ H.E.B.; PORTO‚ P.A.. The Development of Dalton’s Atomic Theory as a Case Study in the History of Science: Reflections for Educators in Chemistry. SCIENCE EDUCATION, v. 19, n. 1, p. 75-90, 2010. (07/02542-4)