Abstract

ZANOTELLO, Marcelo. The reading of original texts of scientists by students in a university course. Ciênc. educ. (Bauru) [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.4, pp. 987-1013. ISSN 1516-7313.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-73132011000400014.

In this paper, I analyze the production of meanings by first-year students on a university course of science and technology based on the reading of original texts of notable scientists in the fields of thermodynamics and the kinetic theory of gases. The analysis is performed on the written registers of the students' answers to a questionnaire on the proposed texts. The activity is developed in the context of a reflection about the inclusion of elements of the history of science in science classes at various levels of education. Despite some difficulties pointed out by students in the reading of texts, (which in my opinion is to provide opportunities for effective meditational dialogue in the classroom), they noted in their accounts the rich contribution that the presence of history of physics provided, through the reading of original texts, for the formation of a scientific culture and for the understanding of certain concepts.

Keywords : History of science; original texts; reading; production of senses; thermodynamics.