Ensino de Botânica na Amazônia: Práticas docentes e aprimoramentos necessários

Abstract

The present work aimed to analyze the teaching practice through the educator's perspective when teaching the contents of Botany in the degrees in Biological and Natural Sciences offered by public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the state of Amapá, Brazilian Amazon. The data were collected through the application of a questionnaire containing questions related to the particularities of the course, the contents, the workload, the methodological practices and strategies used in the disciplines of Botany and professional training. The dynamics experienced by the teachers point out obstacles that limit their practice. The aspects signaled at different moments of the research indicate that the level of botanical knowledge of the incoming students, the scarcity of didactic material and appropriate spaces for classes and the conspicuous lack of interest in the students by the contents are the main causes of the issues raised. In view of the results presented, it is clear that there is a need to improve the teaching of Botany in the undergraduate courses studied, especially with regard to performance and teaching methodological strategies.