Abstract

LIMA, Maria Emília Caixeta de Castro; AGUIAR JUNIOR, Orlando  and  DE CARO, Carmen Maria. The development of scientific concepts: reflections from a textbook writing experience. Ciênc. educ. (Bauru) [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.4, pp. 855-871. ISSN 1516-7313.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-73132011000400006.

This paper presents a systematization of the reflections that guided our decisions about how to design a science textbook that best encouraged students to develop basic scientific concepts. We drew upon the theories of Vygotsky and Bakhtin to support our conviction that what a word means is not revealed in a dictionary, but in its use in social contexts. We present extracts from a science textbook, exemplifying strategies aimed at establishing mediations between personal meanings relied on in the everyday life of the students and the scientific concepts with more stable meanings.

Keywords : Textbook; concept formation; social-constructivism; language and cognition.