CONTINUING TEACHER EDUCATION: TEACHING CHEMISTRY BY INVESTIGATION IN THE FINAL YEARS OF ELEMENTARY

Abstract

The present qualitative research aims to evaluate the contributions of a Continuing Education Course with Science teachers from the final years of Elementary School for the approach to chemical concepts from the perspective of Inquiry-Based Learning. The course was developed over four meetings, which included the participation of two teachers working in the subject of Science in the final years of Elementary School. Data collection was conducted thru semi-structured interviews, analyzed based on the Content Analysis technique. The results revealed a positive perception of the course, as well as highlighting the challenges faced in teaching chemical concepts, such as difficulties in planning, content overload, and institutional pressure. The training on Inquiry-Based Teaching proved effective in promoting reflective and investigative pedagogical practices, as the teachers, in developing the Investigative Teaching Sequences, recognized a significant potential in them to make the teaching process more dynamic and participatory.