Abstract

FERRY, Alexandre da Silva  and  PAULA, Helder de Figueirêdo e. Structural mapping of analogies used in a class about chemical kinetics. Ciência educ. [online]. 2017, vol.23, n.1, pp.29-50. ISSN 1980-850X.  https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-731320170010003.

This paper uses the Dedre Gentner's Structure-Mapping Theory of Comparisons to answer two questions: (i) what characteristics allow us to identify a comparison as being an analogy? (ii) what coordination is established between different comparisons which deals with the same topic, concept or scientific model? To answer these and other questions, we observe a sequence of teaching. We also recorded it on video and audio. To write this paper we chose, transcribed and structurally mapped four comparisons established by this teacher during a same class. Our analysis shows the complexity and the sophistication of some analogies. In addition, it shows how they are prepared from less complex comparisons. Finally, our work shows the power of the structural mapping of comparisons to help us understand how these mediational means are used to teach Chemistry.

Keywords : Chemistry teaching; Analogy; Structure-mapping of comparisons; Science teaching.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )