Students of Pedagogy in Chemistry and Sciences. Naturals participate in practical activities with educational establishments

natural chemistry

The instances are framed within the “Practical and Assistantship” subject of the degree.

Different practical experiences were carried out by the students of the Ped degree. in Chemistry and Cs. Natural to the institution, with the purpose of replicating exercises typical of the profession in different educational establishments. In this context, the scientific fairs organized by the Liceo Gabriela Mistral, Colegio Americano and Colegio Calasanz were visited, and Saint John's School was also received at the University premises.

chemistry csnaturales2“The students of this subject carry out the practical experience, which is carried out with some chemical reagents from laboratory work and others with chemical products from the home environment, considering all the relevant safety regulations. In the activities they develop both their procedural skills as well as their conceptual and attitudinal skills, since they begin their work as teachers from the initial training,” explained the program coordinator, Dr. Patricia Pizarro.

Furthermore, the participation of sixth-level students, who are taking the subject “Practical and Assistantship”, has also included first-year students and those who are taking the subject of Didactics.

The experience was described by the students as very valuable for their training, since it allowed them to strengthen the knowledge acquired in the classroom in a practical way. “These spaces seem like a very good opportunity to me, because many colleagues from other careers do not have these practical instances while they are studying, so this brings us closer to the world where we are going to have to work and also allows us to see if we really have the vocation to be teachers,” said student Carolina Calderón.

chemistry csnaturales3While the student Javiera Íter, who is in the last year of her degree, pointed out that “as a future teacher, these experiences help me in training, as they allow us to expand, lose fear and see my mistakes, which we have had to be resolved on site. Therefore, these instances help us see if we are good with our knowledge and it is the opportunity we have to see what didactic or teaching techniques we can use."

On the other hand, the graduate of the course, Paulina Zúñiga, valued the possibility that the students could learn about the University's facilities and carry out practical exercises in the Chemistry laboratories themselves. “The practical part is super important, one tends to bombard students with theory all year long. The fact that they see what happens, the reactions themselves, is doubly significant, since there is a double knowledge when carrying out demonstrative experiences and it allows them to assimilate a lot of the theory and understand the reason for certain reactions or situations," stated the teacher at Saint John's School, who accompanied the third-year students of the Chemistry elective of said establishment.

The coordinator hopes to continue participating in this type of activities during the current year, since in addition to promoting the initial training of future teachers, it has allowed them to connect with the graduates of the program, who have been able to share their vision regarding their own experiences faced in the world of work.

Source: Integrated Pedagogy Management Unit (UGIP) – PMI FIP ULS1501 | CM ULS1755