Experiencias de trabajo colaborativo en materias del ámbito científico con elevado contenido práctico

Resumo

The academic organization of laboratory-based courses in experimental sciences is complex both in organization and methodology. In these courses, a large number of enrolled students must acquire sophisticated technical skills using highly precise instruments. We have designed didactic strategy integrating real laboratory experiences and problem-solving activities in order to promote both autonomous and collaborative work among the students. In our project, the continuous procedures associated to the tissue processing for their study of microscopy, were solved by groups of 4-5 students asynchronously throughout the lab sessions. This organization implies that student's groups rotate for the different steps of the histological processing and optimize the use of instruments. Students work with biological material previously prepared by the instructor. In the last lab session, the student's group discusses the results obtained, analyzing putative problems and solutions in the procedures performed during the course. The application of this didactic strategy has greatly increased the students� interest in these laboratory procedures and has promoted a new way of self-learning.