Development of experimental chemistry classes by the tutor: a study in the Distance Learning Chemistry Degree Campus in Maceió of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

In this paper of qualitative work, we did an ethnographic study in which the author first acted as a tutor and as a researcher as well. We developed the study on Maceió Distance Learning Chemistry Degree Campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), located in the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL). We took as the object of study, the experimental classes developed by Professors the on the Distance Learning Chemistry Degree Campus of the UFRN taught by the tutor at the Chemistry Laboratory in the period of 2008-2010, to check whether the experimental classes proposed by the professors and taught by the tutor contributes for a reflective ongoing training of undergraduates of the course. To do so, (i) we read the UFRN draft of the Political-pedagogical for the Distance Learning Chemistry Degree, (ii) we read the experimental classes proposed by the professors, (iii) we took notes on the logbook about the experimental classes under the guidance of the tutor. We observed the results of this monitoring that shows the experimentation in the Distance Learning Chemistry Degree course of the UFRN and as a consequence, that the training it offers is strongly linked to the technical rationality, contributing just a little to a reflective training of the undergraduates of the course.