The use of the History of Science to improve the understanding of the thematic of reproduction: A study with students of secondary school

Abstract

The History of Biology teaching offers immense advantages in students' success, this fact being supported by many authors. This study mainly aims to identify the knowledge of the sample students about the reproduction of living beings. A qualitative methodology and questionnaire were used to collect data. The sample consists of 18 students from a secondary school, in North Portugal. For comparison, the same questionnaire was applied to another class under the same conditions, to ascertain the effect of using History of Biology in the scientific literacy of students. This study gives the syllabus of reproduction and attaches importance to the history of biology. Opportunities for teachers to reflect on the possible uses of the History of Biology and to apply it in their teaching practice were considered necessary. The results proved satisfactory, confirming the advantage of using the History of Science in education.