Maurício Roberto Motta Pinto da Luz

Student views of research training programmes in medical schools

Medical Education 2011:45: 748–755

Heterogeneity in the plasma levels of two acute-phase proteins in mice from inbred strains infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

We analyzed the variations observed in the plasma levels of both alpha-macroglobulins (AM) and serum amyloid P (SAP) in mice from three different inbred strains (C3H, Balb/C and C57black/6) acutely infected withTrypanosoma cruzi. SAP levels increased in C57black/6 and Balb/C mice but not C3H mice. AM levels increased in all C3H mice but not in C57black/6 mice and rose slightly in only 43% of the Balb/C mice. AM and SAP levels are differently modulated in patterns that may be strain-determined.

Glucose as the sole metabolic fuel: Overcoming a misconception using conceptual change to teach the energy-yielding metabolism to Brazilian high school students

A misconception regarding the human metabolism has been shown to be widespread among high school students. The students consider glucose as the sole metabolic fuel, disregarding that lipids and amino acids can be oxidized for ATP production by human cells. This misconception seems to be a consequence of formal teaching in grade and high schools. The present study reports the evaluation of a teaching strategy based on the use of a dialogic teaching methodology within a conceptual change approach to remediate that misconception. Students were stimulated to formulate hypotheses, outline experiments, and to discuss their outcomes. The results showed that students were able to reformulate their original concepts immediately after teaching. The majority of the students showed adequate learning of the topic eight months after the application of the teaching strategy, although some level of misconception recurrence was observed. The educational consequences of the teaching unit are discussed in the context of the possible reasons for its success as well as the need for similar initiatives at grade school to avoid the establishment of the misconception.

Integração entre Internet e Prática Docente de Química

O estudo teve como objetivo identificar as principais caracteristicas do uso da internet por professores de Quimica do ensino medio do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A maioria dos professores reconhece e usa a internet para aprender, principalmente por meio de busca de informacoes sobre conteudo quimico para uso individual. Embora politicas publicas incentivem o uso didatico de ferramentas da internet em contextos educacionais, o uso de tais ferramentas permanece distante das salas de aula de Quimica. Discutimos a importância de articular politicas e programas de formacao de professores que proporcionem atividades de sensibilizacao sobre o potencial pedagogico das ferramentas de internet entre os professores. DOI: 10.5935/1984-6835.20150044

O Conhecimento Tecnológico Pedagógico do Conteúdo no Contexto Lusófono: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

Teaching is characterized by a high level of variability of situations faced by teachers and an interconnection between theory and practice. Thus, requires teachers interleaving different types of knowledge to be applied in different situations. The aim of this study is to identify and synthesize results of research in Lusophone context about technology integration in teaching based on the theoretical model Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). The results was discussed and indicate that research area is in early stage. Empirical research on the TPACK model would benefit from the use of validated instruments, which would allow the comparison of results obtained in the context Lusophone with those of other countries. This type of parallel contribute to a better understanding and eventual reorientation of the various public policies for the use of educational technologies in teaching.

Brazilian Undergraduate Students’ Conceptions on the Origins of Human Social Behavior: Implications for Teaching Evolution

AbstractStudents’ conceptions on the origins of human social behavior are poorly understood. The aim of this research was to quantitatively evaluate the conceptions on the origins of certain types of human behavior expressed by a group of 1,212 Brazilian university students. Results suggest that regardless of either religiosity or evolutionary commitments, the majority of the students advocate nurture-based arguments to explain human social behavior. Data also suggest that behaviors considered to be typically human are better explained by nurture-based arguments. The preference for nurture-based explanations may be due to the absence of the theme “behavior” in biology curriculum in secondary schools. The possibility of teaching aspects of human biology that are known to be influenced both by nature and nurture-based explanations is discussed. We conclude that, despite the enormous influence of evolutionary theory on recent western thought, Brazilian students do not seem to perceive its legacy concerning the origins of human social behavior.

Information Literacy of Public Health Students in Bordeaux, France: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study builds on an earlier Information Literacy (IL) assessment of Public Health (PH) students, where graduation background was associated with IL. Here, we described the IL of PH students and investigated if the country of origin is an associated variable. A cross-sectional study with 151 PH master students attending the Institut de Sante Publique d’Epidemiologie et de Developpement on face-to-face and distance education modalities was developed with a customized questionnaire applied during an IL course. Overall, participants (Ps=86) showed positive IL basic skills, but used less frequently the more sophisticated resources. Differences between French (55) and Foreign (31) Ps were noticed in the choice of information sources and previous learning opportunities. In addition to graduation background, the shortage of information resources and lack of expert IL tutoring in the respective countries could be associated with IL differences. Course planners of international PH programs should take these variables into consideration.