THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY TO THE TEACHING OF GEOMETRIC OPTICS: A POSSIBILITY FOR SCIENTIFIC ENCULTURE

Abstract

This work is part of an academic master’s thesis in Science and Mathematics Teaching, with an emphasis on Physics Teaching. This specific section of the research aims to answer the following central question: what are the potentialities of astrophotography in the teaching of optics for scientific enculturation? The target audience for this research is a group of 18 students regularly enrolled in the 2nd year of secondary school. The approach adopted for the research was characterized as survey, with an emphasis on quantitative methods. A five-point Likert-type questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument, which underwent a rigorous validation process to guarantee the reliability of the results obtained. The conclusions of the research highlight the relevance of using astronomy to contextualize content, as well as its interdisciplinary potential in promoting science education.