Loading...
11 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
- The Use of Mobile Sensors by Children: A Review of Two Decades of Environmental Education ProjectsPublication . Silva, Maria João; Gouveia, Cristina; Gomes, Cristina AzevedoOver the past twenty years, the use of electronic mobile sensors by children and youngsters has played a significant role in environmental education projects in Portugal. This paper describes a research synthesis of a set of case studies (environmental education projects) on the use of sensors as epistemic mediators, evidencing the technological, environmental, social, and didactical dimensions of environmental education projects over the last two decades in Portugal. The triggers of the identified changes include: (i) the evolution of sensors, information and communication platforms, and mobile devices; (ii) the increasing relevance of environmental citizenship and participation; (iii) the recognition of the role of multisensory situated information and quantitative information in environmental citizenship; (iv) the cause–effect relation between didactical strategies and environmenta. education goals; (v) the potential of sensory and epistemic learners’ practices in the environment to produce learning outcomes and new knowledge. To support the use of senses and sensors in environmental education projects, the SEAM model was created based on the developed research synthesis.
- Framework for a research-based and interdisciplinary use of sensors in elementary teacher educationPublication . Silva, Maria João; Rodrigues, Margarida; Tempera, TiagoSensors should be integrated into teacher education, as they are essential tools in the digital practices needed for full participation in society. Electronic sensors can be used as laboratory/scientific tools, as everyday mobile learning tools, and as epistemic mediators in several scientific fields, as well as in interdisciplinary approaches. In this way, electronic sensors can play multiple roles in the main dimensions of teacher education. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to create a framework for the research-based and interdisciplinary use of sensors in elementary teacher education, based on the thematic analysis of seven case studies implemented in Portugal. The thematic categories used in the cross-case analysis were fundamental in revealing the different roles played by sensors in the different phases of the didactic sequences of the cases. Subsequently, the thematic analysis made it possible to identify patterns of affordances of sensors and to relate the multiple roles of electronic sensors to different areas of the Portuguese elementary teacher education model. The research synthesis made it possible to outline the framework perspectives. The resulting framework systematized and highlighted the affordances of sensors in pre-service and in-service elementary teacher education as scientific, epistemic, interdisciplinary, and didactic mediators. These affordances were revealed to be particularly important in data-driven inquiry problem-solving, pedagogical content knowledge, and professional knowledge development. The framework created can be expanded in future related research.
- Utilizar eco-sensores na exploração da saúde ambiental: Das salas de aula ao espaço exterior na formação docentePublication . Silva, Maria João; Caseiro, Ana; Rodrigues, Margarida; Valente, Bianor; Melo, Nuno; Almeida, António; Nunes, MariaA investigação apresentada neste artigo desenvolveu um conjunto de cenários pluridisciplinares de aprendizagem para promover a exploração da saúde ambiental na formação docente, utilizando eco-sensores em diversos espaços interiores e exteriores à escola. Os referidos cenários centram-se em diversas dimensões da saúde ambiental das escolas, como o som e a qualidade do ar, especificamente a concentração de dióxido de carbono no ar. A avaliação do uso dos sensores para explorar estas dimensões da saúde ambiental da escola tornou possível validar práticas pluridisciplinares de utilização dos sensores em saúde ambiental na formação docente inicial e perspetivar práticas dos/as futuros/as docentes no empoderamento das crianças, para eco-inovarem em saúde ambiental.
- Embodied education: Senses, emotions, and technologyPublication . Silva, Maria João; Ferreira, Eduarda; Andrade, Vania; Nunes, Olinda; Carvalho, Maria da LuzThe theme of this paper is the importance of educational embodied approaches, aiming at developing children's sensory awareness, emotional competences and abstract thinking. The case studies presented in this paper explored the joint use of human senses and electronic sensors in embodied educational activities, related to mathematics and science education, situated in schools and in the schools' neighbourhood, and grounded in children's everyday practices. In all the three case studies, the children enhanced sensory and emotional awareness, body literacy and developed abstract thinking, grounded on their own embodied experiences.
- A didactic model to support the use of senses and sensors in environmental education problem solvingPublication . Silva, Maria JoãoProblem solving, and specifically the goal of developing problem-solving competences, is a significant dimension of environmental education. Moreover, human senses and electronic sensors have been recognized as important tools in authentic problem-based learning. The purpose of this paper is to present a model to support teachers in creating didactic activities that use human senses and electronic sensors as epistemic mediators in participatory environmental education problem-based learning. The EcoSolvingS model is based on a set theoretical and practical perspectives, and on a cross analysis of a selection of environmental education problem-solving case studies. In a first part, this paper presents the dimensions of the theoretical foundations of the EcoSolvingS model. Subsequently, the results of the cross analysis of the environmental education problem-solving case studies are presented and related to the components of the EcoSolvingS model. Finally, the model is described, and its utility and future developments are discussed.
- Embodied education: Senses, emotions, and technologyPublication . Silva, Maria João; Ferreira, Eduarda; Andrade, Vania; Nunes, Olinda; Carvalho, Maria da LuzThe theme of this paper is the importance of educational embodied approaches, aiming at developing children's sensory awareness, emotional competences and abstract thinking. The case studies presented in this paper explored the joint use of human senses and electronic sensors in embodied educational activities, related to mathematics and science education, situated in schools and in the schools' neighbourhood, and grounded in children's everyday practices. In all the three case studies, the children enhanced sensory and emotional awareness, body literacy and developed abstract thinking, grounded on their own embodied experiences.
- Empowering in-service teachers to support students in using sensors to address environmental problemsPublication . Silva, Maria João; Ribeiro, MargaridaElectronic sensors can be used by teachers and students as epistemic mediators in environmental knowledge creation. A workshop was designed and developed, on the basis of the Eco-SolvingS Model, in order to train in-service teachers in using electronic sensors with their students to identify and explore school environmental problems. In this paper, the authors describe that workshop, and analyze its results, presenting evidences of the significant use of sensors by students. This way, this paper make available a simple, brief and validated strategy to empower in-service teachers to support students in using sensors to address environmental problems.
- Children using sound sensors to improve school environmental healthPublication . Souza, Alexandra; Alves, Ana Rita; Rodrigues, Sofia; Gomes, Cristina Azevedo; Silva, Maria JoãoThe teaching and learning experience, reported in this paper, aims at empowering schoolchildren in the promotion of environmental health in schools, emphasizing the role of Information and Communication Technologies in such promotion. Sound sensors (integrated in tablets) together with a free app were used by children to improve their awareness in what concerns noise, and its consequences. A set of strategies were designed and implemented to support children in making sense of the use of sound sensors in the specific context of a science museum school, with their own teachers, and where each class stays only for a week. Children’s registers and answers to a satisfaction questionnaire contributed to validate the developed strategy. Primary school teachers’ feedback made it possible to follow-up the experience. The dissemination of the experience to other primary schools is being planned in the context of a research project on Environmental Health (Eco-sensors4Health).
- Sensing locally in the global environment: using sensors in teachers’ educationPublication . Silva, Maria João; Almeida, António; Valente, Bianor; Rodrigues, Margarida; Manteigas, VítorIn order to develop elementary school children's environmental citizenship, the 2lst century teachers have to improve their own environmental literacy and electronic sensors can have an important role in that improvement. The research presented in this paper describes an environmental education project that uses electronic sensors to support future teachers in thinking globally while sensing and acting in their local environment. Future teachers used sound sensors, temperature sensors, as well as carbon dioxide sensors, together with smartphones, to explore natural and urban systems in order not only to characterize these systems, but also to: i) understand ecosystems' services and interconnectedness; ii) identify environmental problems; and plan related solutions in what concerns climatic comfort and air quality. The data acquired and produced in ecosystems' explorations were selected and are presented in this paper, as well as the related interpretations.The leaming results are related to: i) the local characterization of a natural ecosystem and of the teachers' education school campus; ii) the differences and relations between Lisbon, urban systems and the neighboring natural ecosystems; iii) the identification of interventions to improve the environmental quality of the campus. This research contributed to validating the use of electronic sensors and smartphones as a useful strategy to produce environmental information about the explored ecosystems, to link local and global approaches in environmental education, as well as to support students' actions, planned to enhance the Campus environment.
- Sensing locally in the global environment: using sensors in the teachers’ educationPublication . Silva, Maria João; Almeida, António; Valente, Bianor; Rodrigues, Margarida; Manteigas, VítorIn order to develop elementary school children's environmental citizenship, the 2lst century teachers have to improve their own environmental literacy, and electronic sensors can have an important role in that improvement. The research presented in this paper describes an environmental education project that uses electronic sensors to support future teachers in thinking globally, while sersing and acting in their local environment. Future teachers used sound sensors, temperature sensors, as well as carbon dioxide sensors, together with smarphones, to explore natural and urban systems in order not only to characterizeth ese systems,b ut also to: i) understande cosystems's ervicesa nd interconnectednessii;) identiff environmental problems; and plan related solutions in what concerns climatic comfort and air quality. The data acquired and produced in ecosystems' explorations were selected and are presented in this paper, as well as the related interpretations. The leaming resultsa re relatedt o: i) the local characterizationo fa natural ecosystema nd ofthe teachers' education school campus; ii) the differences and relations between Lisbon,urban systems and the neighboring natural ecosystems; iii) the identification of interventions to improve environmental quality of the campus. This research contributed to validate the use of electronic sensors and smar@honesa s a useful strategy to produce environmental information about the explored ecosystemst,o link local and global approachesin environmentale ducation,a s well as to support students' actions, planned to eúance the Campus environment.