Ethnozoological Knowledge about Aquatic Mammals in Public Schools: Proposals for an Intercultural Teaching of Science

  • Angélica Lúcia Figueiredo Rodrigues Department of Education, State of Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil and Biology and Conservation of the Amazonian Aquatic Mammals (Federal Rural University of Amazonia - UFRA)
  • Gabriel Melo-Santos Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil and Biology and Conservation of the Amazonian Aquatic Mammals (Federal Rural University of Amazonia - UFRA)
  • Geilsa Costa Santos Baptista Education Department, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5871-0115
  • Jairo Robles-Piñeros National Pedagogic University and District University Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia
  • Maria Luisa da Silva Ornithology and Bioacoustics Laboratory, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge, feelings, and life experiences of students in public middle schools in the Brazilian Amazon towards aquatic mammals by applying semi-structured interviews, with a qualitative-quantitative approach. A total of 241 students, from all genders, aged between 12 and 14 years old, from four public schools of Pará State were interviewed. The data were transcribed and analyzed in an inductive way, in dialogue with the literature of scientific education and ethnozoology. This methodology was developed and validated during the doctorate research of the first author of this paper. The students showed a rich knowledge, feelings, and life experiences regarding the Amazonian aquatic mammals, those related to biological, morphological, behavioral, ecological, and taxonomic aspects, as well as the threat to these species. The research reveals the need for schools of the region to develop and use didactic resources and strategies for intercultural dialogue in science classes, favoring the development of reflective attitudes in students and promoting decision-making favorable to the conservation of aquatic mammals.

Author Biography

Geilsa Costa Santos Baptista, Education Department, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil
Professor of Science Teacher Training, Department of Education
Published
2022-05-30