New Perspectives in Science Education
An Analysis of the Contribution of ICT in Association with Geographical Education for the Formation of the Spatial Citizenship in Public Schools in Fortaleza / Brazil
Emanuella Cruz Barbosa Vieira, Institute of Geography and Territorial Planning, University of Lisbon (Portugal)
Maria Helena Esteves, Institute of Geography and Territorial Planning, University of Lisbon (Portugal)
Abstract
Since the dissemination of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in last decades and above all with the Internet, new challenges, opportunities and perspectives have been created, to the extent that new forms of work are also developed and especially with regard to the association between information and knowledge. These changes have their impact on education, developing modern methodologies that have integrated ICT as pedagogical tools. They have brought to teachers new possibilities for exploring school subjects, facilitating the construction of more motivating teaching / learning experiences, approaching school expectations of students based on the creation of interaction and innovation environments, making learning more meaningful, providing opportunities, effecting knowledge, reducing the distance between abstract and real knowledge. The present study sought to analyze the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as an important tool for meaningful learning and the development of space citizenship in three high schools in the city of Fortaleza (Brazil), which participate in the projects We Proposed! Citizenship and Innovation in Geographical Education, promoted by the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), University of Lisbon and the NUCLEO Work, Research and Other Social Practices promoted by the Education Department of the State of Ceará. A questionnaire was applied with 120 students from the participating schools of both projects on the use of ICT in Geography classes and their reflexes. After, the students developed research projects seeking to associate ICT, Geographic Education and space citizenship. In the specific context of the School Geography (subject of research experience), it is important to understand how the use of ICT promotes motivation, autonomy, contributes to the formation of geographically competent citizens and space citizenship, in this case, a reflection of the meaningful learning.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technologies, Meaningful learning, Geography teaching, spacial citizenship;
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