Atividades experimentais em sala de aula para o ensino de microbiologia em uma escola pública de Uruçuí, PI

Abstract

Microbiology is a fundamental field of Science with broad applications in health, industry, and the environment. However, its teaching in public schools faces challenges due to a lack of infrastructure and laboratory resources. This study aimed to evaluate student performance in experimental microbiology classes at a public school in the municipality of Uruçuí, Piauí, Brazil. The research, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, was developed in stages that included theoretical lectures, practical experiments, and assessments through questionnaires. Students participated in activities such as cultivating fungi in a cornstarch medium ("Visible Fungi") and bacteria in gelatin with meat broth ("Getting to Know Bacteria"), reproducing the experiments at home and analyzing the results in the classroom. The collected data demonstrated that alternative materials were effective for microbial cultivation, allowing the visualization of fungal and bacterial colonies. Additionally, greater student engagement and a significant improvement in the understanding of microbiological concepts were observed, with the application of the scientific method. However, the lack of standardization in sample identification indicated the need for more detailed guidance in practical activities. It is concluded that the use of accessible experimental methodologies is a viable and effective strategy for teaching microbiology, promoting active and meaningful learning even in resource-limited contexts. The development of more structured teaching materials and further studies exploring the integration of theory and practice in Microbiology education are recommended