Workshop in Genetics: Saraiva Family and their genes – The children are different, but they are all Saraiva!

• Main Authors: Mariluza Zucco Rizzon, Valquíria Villas-Boas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de Caxias do Sul 2016-02-01
• Series: Scientia cum Industria
• Subjects: Problem based learning; active learning; heredity; genotype; phenotype
• Online Access: http://www.ucs.br/etc/revistas/index.php/scientiacumindustria/article/view/4119/pdf_534

This article reports the development of a workshop held at the IV Symposium on Science and Mathematics Education of Serra Gaúcha, with the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning method. In this active learning method the student is the protagonist of the teaching and learning process, and actively develops a roadmap of studies based on real-life problems. During the workshop, besides getting to know the Problem-Based Learning method, the participants simulated the reproduction of a human couple, taking into account ten genetic characteristics, beyond sex. To solve the problem situation that was proposed, participants also simulated the formation of male and female gametes, the fertilization, the genotypes and phenotypes of the generated offspring, and also carried out the construction of a model. Workshop participants solved the problem posed with commitment and dedication. All participants said they had not previously known the active learning method presented. However, they had already applied the proposed activity with their students, not as an introductory activity but as a closing activity of the learning unit or as a means of evaluation.