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Open Practical Laboratories in the Neurosciences: An outreach program for neuroscience communication in middle schools
Author(s) -
Miranda Feitosa Leonardo,
Ferreira Alves Camila,
Ramalho Figueiredo Natália,
Leite Nascimento Wilker,
Beatriz Adriano da Silva Amanda,
Rivera Ikeda Saulo,
Shigaeff Nadia,
Maximino Caio,
LimaMaximino Monica
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.24800
Subject(s) - outreach , relation (database) , psychology , theme (computing) , science education , medical education , mathematics education , computer science , medicine , political science , world wide web , database , law
The Open Practical Laboratory in the Neurosciences is an outreach program that seeks to improve the knowledge of the neurosciences by elementary school students and to promote better attitudes in relation to neuroscience, science in general, and scientists. It consists in practical and demonstration activities on the theme of the neurosciences. This outreach strategy was applied in four public schools in a municipality in Southeastern Pará, Brazil characterized by low performance in educational reviews in Brazil. Students from both sexes from 9th grade (last grade before high school) were enrolled in the program. The outreach program improved students’ knowledge about the neurosciences, and promoted better attitudes in relation to science and scientists, in comparison to students who did not go through the activities. Results suggest that scientific outreach strategies can produce results beyond immediate increases in knowledge, promoting better attitudes in relation to science.