Resumen

CARRASQUERO D, Armando. DETERMINACIÓN DEL CALOR ESPECÍFICO DE LA PAPA Y LA ZANAHORIA: UN EJEMPLO DE INVESTIGACIÓN GUIADA EN QUÍMICA. Investigación y Postgrado [online]. 2001, vol.16, n.2, pp.11-24. ISSN 1316-0087.

There has always been concern in searching educational strategies which may allow the integration of theory and practice into the basic courses of chemistry. The traditional laboratory activities have shown not to be the best choices for the student to achieve that integration along with a significant learning of the most important concepts of chemistry as science. The present work proposes a methodology which, based in four stages, could lead the student to a significant learning. The first stages seem to examine the actual level of knowledge that the student has in relation to a particular assigned theme under the shape of a problem that he must solve. Subsequently, the strategies for the acquisition of new knowledge related to the theme are established, then the experiments, which can be done inside or outside the school with materials that must be found by the same students whenever possible, are designed. The cycle ends with the execution of experiments, the analysis of the data and the presentation of results. To make an example of the application of this proposal, the need for the practical determination of the specific heat of the potato and the carrot is outlined, and the entry knowledge, the experiments, as well as the results obtained, are detailed. It is considered that this strategy could contribute to improve the fundamental chemistry teaching process at schools.

Palabras clave : Integration; Practice; Specific heat; Experiments.