Didáctica gerontagógica para promover actitudes positivas hacia la química

Resumen

Gerontagogy is the educational science whose main object of study is the older person in a teaching-learning situation, oriented on the principles of autonomy, competence, experiences, needs and motivations. In this research, in order to promote positive attitudes towards chemistry in adults, a didactic intervention proposal was developed within the course "Chemistry for everyone and everything", consisting of eleven lessons on various aspects of chemistry in relation to everyday life, experimental demonstrations in class and ten laboratory activities. To measure changes in students' attitudes, the ACTITUD50+v.3 instrument was designed and validated considering the three dimensions of the construct “attitude”: Usefulness, Personal impact and Affective-emotional. This questionnaire contained 26 items using qualitative and quantitative descriptors. The theoretical validity of the construct was determined by the Global Validity Index, while using a pilot test and statistical analysis, the homogeneity, internal structure and discrimination capacity of the scale were verified, making the tool highly valid and reliable to correctly measure the attitude towards chemistry of people over 50 years of age. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to promote highly positive attitudes towards chemistry in older adults through a didactic programme based on gerontagogical principles. The participative theoretical classes, interaction with other people and teamwork in the laboratory also contributed significantly to the change of attitude both in the global construct and in each of its dimensions.