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- Children's conceptions about microorganisms and healthPublication . Carvalho, Graça S. de; Mafra, Paulo; Lima, NelsonChildren’s alternative conceptions on microorganisms and health are little studied in the literature. Several international studies have shown that these conceptions are incomplete, divergent from scientific knowledge and resistant to change, often even after formal education. This study aimed to identify children’s conceptions about microorganisms and health before the formal education of this content (5th grade) and two years after (7th grade). A questionnaire consisting of closed questions was applied to 439 pupils. Most pupils associate microorganisms with the disease and recognize the reason they should be vaccinated. Contrary to results in other studies, pupils associate vaccines with disease prevention rather than disease cure. Some children do not directly associate behaviours related to their hygiene and the need to disinfect wounds with the elimination of undesirable microorganisms. Also the beneficial aspects of the microorganisms are little recognized by the pupils. Statistical analysis showed significant differences (p <0.05) between the two groups in some answers. It is necessary to improve the approach to microorganisms right away in primary school. Textbooks and teachers should give more emphasis on the justification of personal hygiene and the beneficial aspects of microorganisms.
- Microbes: the good, the bad and the ugly. How society perceives themPublication . Carvalho, Graça S. de; Mafra, Paulo; Lima, NelsonKnowledge, Values and Practices (the KVP model) validates peoples’ conceptions and will be presented here within the educational system framework. The influences of scientists, the media, actors of the educational system and textbook authors on the school external didactic transposition (EDT) will be addressed. Particular emphasis will be given to pupils’ conceptions of microorganisms and how textbooks address these issues. It is well documented that eliciting what children already know and understand scientific concepts is important for achieving effective and significant learning. Examples of children’s conceptions about microorganisms before and after their first lessons on the subject will be shown. Children’s anthropomorphic ideas are very present, attributing human qualities to, for example, whether microorganisms are well- or evil-intentioned, can be assessed by children’s drawings and using terms such as ‘good’, ‘bad’ and ‘ugly’. Textbooks reinforcing the ‘bad’ and ‘ugly’ views are often conveyed within the biomedical model of health. Therefore, the ‘good’ view of microorganisms (e.g., delicious mushrooms, cheese and yogurt producers, soil and wastewater bioremediation…) is missing in the external didactic transposition, which is the result of an absence of the non-medical scientists’ influence in the education system. Finally, opportunities must be created for scientists, particularly in the non-biomedical field, to communicate with the education system and the general public, to emphasize the positive views of microorganisms.
- The microorganisms in the Portuguese national curriculum and primary school text booksPublication . Mafra, Paulo; Lima, NelsonThe main aim of the present work is the content analysis of the Portuguese National Curriculum and the Primary School textbooks where microorganisms are concerned. The content analysis through categories created a priori were used as methodology. In all analysed documents the topic microorganisms did not emerge in a clear way. However, several indirect themes related to microorganisms were found in the National Curriculum and textbooks of the Environment Study issue. These themes can be explored with pupils through experimental activities. The Science Education in primary schools can be introduced with proposals of activities involving microorganisms and contributing to a better understanding of the children’s world.
- Primary school health education: how children can learn about microbes and hand hygienePublication . Mafra, Paulo; Lima, Nelson; Carvalho, Graça S. deIn a technologically advanced and globalizing world, it is necessary to adjust the curricula and teaching methodologies so that scientific training can be applied to the real and current situations of pupils’ personal and social lives, thus contributing to improving their scientific literacy. The experimental teaching of science allows a better understanding of the children’s world. Primary school children’s natural curiosity is a gateway for better learning about microorganisms. Experimental primary school teaching of microbiology, focusing on hand hygiene, was implemented in this study. This practical activity was developed in Bragança, Portugal, with 16 pupils enrolled in the 4th year of primary school, by addressing the problem-question: “Why should you wash your hands before meals?” The results showed that pupils had come to recognize that they had bacteria on their hands and had verified the effectiveness of the handwashing process. It was concluded that this activity can help children, as early as the primary school, through an autonomous and responsible manner, to understand the importance of handwashing, so that they see this procedure as not being just a socially correct behaviour or a simple rule to fulfil.