Biological knowledge in the National Curriculum of High School: an historical and philosophical analysis from the statutes of biology

We analyzed the National Curriculum for Secondary Schools with respect to the ontological, epistemological, historical, social and conceptual biology. This study aims to bring information and thinking about the inclusion of history and philosophy of biology for secondary education and for teacher tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antônio Fernandes Nascimento Júnior, Daniele Cristina de Souza, Marcelo Carbone Carneiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 2011-10-01
Series:Investigações em Ensino de Ciências
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.if.ufrgs.br/ienci/artigos/Artigo_ID262/v16_n2_a2011.pdf
Description
Summary:We analyzed the National Curriculum for Secondary Schools with respect to the ontological, epistemological, historical, social and conceptual biology. This study aims to bring information and thinking about the inclusion of history and philosophy of biology for secondary education and for teacher training. We performed an analysis of PCNEM, PCNEM+ and Curriculum Guidelines as a whole from established categories. The results indicate a predominance of the ontological view of mechanistic biology. Epistemologically, although acknowledged, the question of scientific method is rarely discussed. The historical approach and social scientific activity and scientific knowledge are recognized by the documents, but an instrumental view prevails. The conceptual aspects are comprehensive and take into account the theories of structural biology. A philosophical discussion on the biology is missing in the parameters, indicating the need for the inclusion of issues related to ideas of determinism, chance and teleology.
ISSN:1518-8795