VISUALIZATION AND TEACHER EDUCATION: SOME TRENDS IN CHEMICAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The current scenario of teaching chemistry has introduced the visual tools as a way to solve the cognitive demand of students and teachers. These tools contribute to facilitate the teaching of various chemistry topics, making visible the microscopic interactions. Despite the wide variety and functionality of the visual tools, teachers have been faced with the un-known, since they are not prepared to use these tools in the classroom. Motivated by this fact, research on pre-service and in-service teacher educational programs has shown paths and initiatives aiming to assist and prepare the teacher to use the visual tools. This study presents a reflexive approach of some researches about the use of visualizations and teacher training programs (in-service and pre-service). Based on the trends presents in selected pa-pers, it was concluded that researchers raised the ideas of teachers about the uses of these tools. This can base initiatives to work with these conceptions, solving doubts, questions and fears of using the computer. The teachers show interest in use these tools in their classes showing the importance and the current necessity of courses that enable the teacher to use visualization tools. Although there are some proposals for teacher training programs, there is much more to study and research in this area. Key words: chemical education, teacher education, visualization.