Análise da abordagem histórica para o conteúdo de eletroquímica nos livros didáticos de ciências da natureza e suas tecnologias - Pnld 2021

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze how high school textbooks, approved in the National Textbook Program (PNLD) 2021, address elements of history associated with the content of electrochemistry. It assumes that the history of Science can provide a human dimension to scientific content and connect it to the ethical, cultural, and political interests of society. Thus, the methodology of document analysis was used to examine the textbooks of Natural Sciences and their technologies, involving an evaluation of the historical approach related to the content of electrochemistry present in the approved works in PNLD High School 2021. Five criteria for analysis were selected: i) Placement of the history of chemistry in the chapter and the way history is presented; ii) Names of scientists and year of discoveries; iii) Explanation of the contribution of other scientists; iv) Approach to the acceptance of theories proposed by scientists; v) Experimental errors or other mistakes in interpretation. With these criteria, it was possible to observe the low importance that the history of Science occupies in the books, specifically the history related to the discoveries of electrochemistry in textbooks. This low importance is noticed by the little relevance that the chapters addressing electrochemistry bring to the historical contextualization of the work developed by Galvani and Volta, as they are often mentioned only as a curiosity or superficially, with just names and dates. However, among the seven analyzed books, three provide more details about the work of Galvani and Volta, making evident the importance of their work and interpretations for the phenomena, as well as their contributions to the work developed by Daniell. Regarding the other books, two of them only mention Volta as the precursor of the batteries currently used, without mentioning Galvani. And one of the books, although mentioning these scientists in other parts of the chapter, attributes the invention of the battery to Daniell without crediting the contributions of other researchers. With the results of this study, it is understood that the historical approach proposed in the electrochemistry chapters is not properly employed in the textbooks of Natural Sciences. It is understood that it is necessary for the books to provide contextualization with the history of Science to counter distorted views such as the idea that Science is infallible or unquestionable.