Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"
«La main à la pâte» in the Brazilian reality
“La main à la pâte (LAMAP)” approaches have existed for 10 years or more. They originated in France among high-level researchers such as Georges Charpak, who received the Nobel Prize for Physics, and their aim is “to renovate the teaching of science and technology in primary school by favouring teaching based on an approach via scientific investigation.” They bring to the fore the importance of early initiation into science through an approach which entails the asking of questions. Many of the so-called emerging nations develop this type of concept as, apart from the initial aims of those behind these ideas, this approach necessitates only a minimum of material and specialized workplaces.
A professor of didactics at the “Cândido Mendes University” (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: http://www.candidomendes.br/ ) came to Switzerland accompanied by two of her students, in order to present the results of her research to the 6th forum of experimental science didactics in Lausanne (http://www.hepl.ch/index.php?id=1237) on January 22nd 2010. During her stay (ten days) various contacts and activities were arranged to enhance collaborations between researchers and teachers in the field of LAMAP in Brazil and Switzerland:
1°) Participation in a working session of HEP-BEJUNE (Teacher Training School Berne Jura Neuchâtel) and the University of Neuchâtel (UNINE) about professional integration of young teachers on the job market. For us, it was very interesting to consider this question in connection with the concept of LAMAP.
2°) Presentation of research at “6th forum of experimental science didactics in Lausanne” (see above). It was a very rich day, including a multitude of exchanges and contacts with Swiss and foreign researchers.
3°) Visits of various classrooms, as well in primary as in secondary schools. We were shown various approaches in relation with the concept of LAMAP. In primary and secondary schools, we saw pupils who were actually in research situation. It was very interesting to compare situations in Brazil and in Switzerland. In the Pedagogic School, we could discuss with the students and show the different approaches in Swiss and Brazilian Education.
4°) A workshop was set up in the In-Service Training section of the HEP-BEJUNE. Several teachers have worked on the concept of LAMAP in light of Brazilian practices.
5°) Participation in a seminar for secondary teacher initial building-up. Discussions were focused on adaptation of active methods in terms of cultural and level approaches.
6°) Various travels and contacts have been organized through Switzerland in order to discover regional specificities such as Tessin with “Scuola Universitaria Professionale (SUPSI)” and Zürich with University (UNIZH) and “Pädagogische Hochschule (PHZH)”. A trip to Lucerne revealed the “Urschweiz” and some of its traditions.
The HEP-BEJUNE played a key role as the coordinating organisation, and integrated the guests into various activities in educational research. In the course of the discussions, particular attention was given to the place of girls in scientific education.
In conclusion, we can say that all the goals set for the program were largely met and all participants fully satisfied.
We wish to sincerely thank the KPFE for supporting this project, which is extremely important in terms of North-South collaboration and exchanges of enriching practices.
Requérant en Suisse:
Jacques Ducommun
Dr ès sciences
Prof. HEP
HEP-BEJUNE PF2
33, rue du 1er août
CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Tél. prof. 032 886 97 51
Tél. privé 079 474 76 17
e-mail : jacques.ducommun@hep-bejune.ch
Répondante au Brésil :
Profa. Dra. Tânia da Silveira Cardona
Universidade Cândido Mendes
Rua Conde de Bonfim, 743 – Tijuca
20530-000 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Tel.: 0055 / 21 2570-0722/2570-0599
e-mail: tania_dasilveira@yahoo.fr
Etudiantes:
Patrícia Helena de Villanova Junqueira Ferreira
Amanda Rosadas Carlomagno Vieira
Universidade Cândido Mendes
Rio de Janeiro Brasil