Educação ambiental na formação do técnico em química a partir de um projeto interdisciplinar sobre resíduos sólidos

Abstract

The Brazilian legislation indicates that Environmental Education (EE) must be included in all levels and modalities of education, in order to contribute to forming conscientious citizens who help transform society-environment relations. In this sense, EE must be present in Professional and Technological Education (PTE) at high school level. However, there is a research gap that intertwines the fields of EE and PTE in the country. In the context of a technical course in chemistry integrated a high school education at a public institution located in the interior of Sao Paulo, this research sought to analyze the Environmental Plant Nursery project, in order to discuss the potential for inserting EE to the theme of solid waste in the formation of technical professionals in Chemistry. The research has a descriptive character and relied the analysis of documents about the project an the field research, carried out throughout 2020. All those involved in the project were invited, and 03 professionals from the management team, 04 teachers and 15 students from the 2nd grade of Technician in Chemistry Integrated to High School at that institution accepted to participate in the research. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with the management team and teachers and questionnaires in electronic format, applied to students Data were analyzed through content analysis, with a posteriori categorization process. The indicators for analysis were: a) choice of theme and study problem; b) contextualization of the project; c) methodological strategies; d) mobilization, intervention and initiative; e) construction of knowledge and a critical view of the subject; f) professional performance of the Chemistry technician. The results indicate that, although the students did not participate in the choice of the project theme, they were involved in other decisions related to the proposed actions. The realization of the project underwent significant changes due to the scenario imposed by the pandemic by COVID-19, which forced the activities to be adapted to a virtual learning environment. Even so, the use of participatory methodologies was encouraged, which were proposed to be carried out in households and, in the case of some students, involved the participation of family members in the cultivation of homemade mini plant nurseries, garbage separation and composting. Part of the students showed ignorance about the National Solid Waste Policy and about some procedures for separating recyclable materials; although they could position themselves regarding the negative impacts caused by poor solid waste management. We also noticed a predominance of a utilitarian perspective on the concept of garbage and waste on the part of students. The project contributed to the mobilization and sensitization demonstrated by the students in favor of the solid waste theme and the insertion of EE in the training of technicians in Chemistry.