Educação em Ciência: actividades exteriores à sala de aula

Abstract

SCIENCE EDUCATION: OUTDOOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES  The important role played in science education by outdoor learning environments is recognised by educational research; this environment is also frequently used by science teachers, particularly Earth Science teachers in their teaching strategies. Taking into account the lack of an accurate designation, in the Portuguese language, for the concept of outdoor learning environment, a suggestion is put forward, as follows: “Actividades Exteriores à Sala de Aula (AESA)”. The study is developed in four steps: (1) challenges to science education in a social context and their implications for the teaching and learning process; (2) discussion about the nature of the outdoor learning environment, mainly in the field of Earth Sciences teaching and learning; (3) reflections on the contribution of outdoor learning environment activities for the achievement of the main aims concerned for science education; (4) final comments, mainly based on the science teaching and learning process, articulated with the need of a better interaction between educational researchers and science teachers. This cooperation facilitates the definition of guidelines which will optimize the relationship between outdoor learning activities and other teaching and learning activities and, therefore, improve Earth Sciences Education