Changes in the physical state of matter may be better understood by students in the 5th grade if students acquire basic notions of corpuscular and kinetic-molecular theory. The early introduction of the concept of particle, its dynamics and the interaction between particles may also reduce the appearance of alternative concepts and facilitate the future understanding of these theories. Although they are abstract concepts and difficult to understand, both by the nature of the particles and by their size, the use of computational simulations may reduce the abstraction necessary to understand such concepts. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of different strategies of use of computer simulations, in learning of the changes in the physical state of matter at a microscopic level, on pupils between 9 and 11 years old. The study was carried out in four classes. Two simulations and four ways to integrate them in the curriculum were used. Data was collected on teaching and learning by using specially pre-tests and post-tests. The study allowed to verify which of the strategies of integration of the computational simulations in the curriculum was the most effective. Key-woRds: physiCaL state oF the matter; partiCuLate nature oF matter; Computer simuLations; CurriCuLum integration strategies.Resumen Los cambios en el estado físico de la materia pueden ser mejor entendidos por los estudiantes del 5º. año de estudio, si los estudiantes adquieren nociones básicas de la teoría corpuscular y cinético-molecular. La introducción temprana del concepto de la partícula, su dinámica y la interacción entre partículas también puede reducir la apariencia de las concepciones alternativas y facilitar la comprensión futura de estas teorías. Aunque son conceptos abstractos y difíciles de entender, tanto la naturaleza de las partículas y por su tamaño, el uso de simulaciones por ordenador puede reducir la abstracción necesaria para entender estos conceptos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de diferentes estrategias para el uso de simulaciones por ordenador, en el aprendizaje de los cambios del estado físico de la materia a nivel microscópico, en alumnos de 9 a 11 años. El estudio se realizó en cuatro clases. Se han utilizado dos simulaciones y cuatro maneras de integrarlos en el currículo. Se recogieron datos sobre la enseñanza y el aprendizaje a partir de la realización de un pre-test y un post-test. El estudio mostró cuál de las estrategias de integración de las simulaciones por ordenador en el currículo fue más eficaz. PalabRas clave: estados FísiCos de La materia; naturaLeza CorpusCuLar de La materia; simuLaCiones por ordenador; estrategias de integraCión CurriCuLar.

The article refers to an investigation into curricular integration (CI) strategies of computer simulations (CS), level of guidance and teacher mediation on the given tasks when using a CS, in the recognition and conceptual elaboration of the structure of the matter and alterations in the physical state at a microscopic level, in tasks with same degree of orientation and the perception of autonomy by students in the 5th grade. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Regarding curricular integration strategies, the class with the best results was the class in which the EXPLORA 1 strategy was applied. With regard to task guidance, the groups submitted to a moderate guidance degree were those who obtained the best learning results. In relations to mediation, the results of mediation are not independent of students' learning and the perception that the student' have about the autonomy and the time they have for the autonomous work. We conclude that autonomy with low guidance can be ineffective and the mediation with a lot of teacher intervention in the context of moderately guidance task can also reduce effectiveness.

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O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a influência/eficácia da mediação do professor na aprendizagem da estrutura da matéria e das mudanças de estado físico a nível microscópico, por alunos do 5.ºano de escolaridade. O estudo teve como base duas questões de investigação: (1) “Qual a influência/eficácia da mediação do professor, em tarefas com igual orientação, na compreensão das mudanças de estado físico da matéria, a nível corpuscular, por alunos do 5.º ano de escolaridade?” (2) “Que avaliação o aluno atribui à autonomia dada pela professora?” O estudo foi realizado em dois grupos de 15 alunos cada. Fez-se a recolha de dados sobre o ensino e a aprendizagem em sala de aula em particular gravações áudio, imagens e trabalhos dos alunos. Com esses dados construíram-se narrações multimodais, cuja análise permitiu verificar que a mediação do professor foi diferente nos dois grupos e que essa diferença pode ter influenciado o grau de desempenho dos alunos e a perceção da autonomia facultada pela professora.