Abstract:

The present teaching research focuses on two topics. The first one is the enhancement of laboratory teaching in the teaching processes of biology and the introduction of “genetics”, not covered in the first degrees of education. The reasons that led us to carry out this path derive from data collected not only in current events but also out of requests of Italian School. Science is in our daily lives. However, a strong scepticism remains over the discipline and any form of scientific research. The cause can be attributed to the lack of scientific culture and to those teachers who often do not use congenial didactics to teaching science. The second one is the reflection, after careful analysis, of National guidelines in which between Primary School and Secondary School there is a gap in the subject of genetics. This last topic is in the learning objectives at the end of First-grade Secondary School without a close connection to the previous school level. We initially carried out two surveys on science education, one for teachers and one for parents. Hence, from this starting point, we have designed and implemented a teaching action in the third year of Primary School in Montebelluna (TV), a path towards the discovery of genetics where we preferred a didactic based on the experimental and laboratory method. To validate our research hypothesis, we chose to propose the final test in a third-year class of Secondary School, where the teacher followed a lesson design content similar to the one we did at the Primary School, but with a traditional didactic approach. The validity of our proposal emerged from the results of the tests: the experimental class obtained an average score higher than the control group. Therefore, the present research work has validated the initial research hypothesis: laboratory teaching leads to better learning outcomes, also in a lifelong learning perspective. Moreover, it develops lots of interest. In conclusion, as stated the National guidelines, "the experiences that are indicated for the Secondary School can also be used in the Primary School with the appropriate adaptations".

Keywords:

Biology, genetics, laboratory approach, primary school, scientific method.