Redox reactions and textbooks: how this content is provided and how teaching models are used

• Grant number: 15/13274-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Fernandez
• Grantee: Tauane Oliveira Reis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07937-8 - Redoxome - Redox Processes in Biomedicine, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The subject matter knowledge redox reactions have been pointed as one of the most difficult issues both by students and by the chemistry teachers. Some of the difficulties come from very technical and algorithmic approaches unrelated to the lives of students. Other times there is in the textbooks mixture of representation levels of chemical knowledge, traditionally known as macroscopic, submicroscopic and symbolic without much explanation. Thus, this study aims to investigate how the concept of redox reactions is presented in textbooks of Chemistry for High School and analyze the role of the teaching models used. The analysis will be conducted among textbooks approved in PNLD 2015 and the curriculum of the State of São Paulo. The data will consist of excerpts from chapters that refer directly or indirectly to the concepts related to redox reactions. These excerpts will be systematized and analyzed in order to recognize: I) the prime approach to teaching the content redox reactions throughout the collection; II) the differences and similarities with the sequence of that content in different collections and consistency with the approach that the book favors.; III.) identifying the models used and the function thereof; IV) analysis of how the present models in textbooks discuss and relate the macroscopic, microscopic and symbolic levels and.; V.) analysis if the different aspects investigated in the collection can be causes of difficulties of the content redox education.