A importância de aulas práticas para o ensino de ciências: Percepção de docentes e discentes de uma escola pública do município de Almeirim - PA

Abstract

This study investigated the perception of teachers and students regarding the importance of practical classes in the teaching of Physical and Biological Sciences at a public school in Almeirim-PA. Three teachers with an average of 19 years of experience were interviewed, and questionnaires were administered to 43 students from two classes. An intervention was carried out with a theoretical-practical lesson applied to one of the classes (experimental group) and only a theoretical lesson in the other (control group). The average number of correct answers in a test, administered before and after the intervention, was compared between the groups. As a result, the teachers reported the relevance of theoretical lessons but emphasized that practical classes are essential for the application of concepts, although they face challenges due to the lack of laboratories. Around 70% of the students reported enjoying practical lessons and recognized their importance for learning. The results showed that the classes participating in the theoretical-practical lesson experienced a significant increase in performance, with a 4.13 point rise in the average, compared to a 2.32 point increase in the classes with only theoretical lessons. We conclude that practical classes are effective in improving learning, and this importance is recognized by both teachers and students. We suggest expanding the study to other schools, as well as investing in continuous teacher training and school infrastructure.