DIDACTIC STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING THE USE OF MICROFOSSILS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS

ANGÉLICA MARIA BALLESTEROS PRADA; JOHN MARIO BALLESTEROS PRADA; MIGUEL ANGEL PAGLIARO

Edimburgo

Simposio; FORAMS 2018; 2018

Nowasdays, Scientists seek through the science diffusion to get closer to the community and to show their work, in addition to show its importance and encourage new generations in the scientific field. The Institute for Research on Biodiversity and the Environment (INIBIOMA) generates a space to interact with the community of San Carlos de Bariloche - Argentina and to exhibit all the work that is carried out in this institution. Taking advantage of these spaces and taking into account that the game is an activity of universal character, we designed an activity that explains the useof microfossils as a tool in paleoenveromental reconstruction (Mainly foraminifera and ostracods). This activity was about a game, in which the participant took the role of micropaleontologist, to understand the environmental variations that occurred in a certain place. Taking into consideration that sediment and microfossil samples are difficult to manipulate and due to their size they need special equipment for their observation. We designed a set of micropaleontology equipment to a larger scale, which consisted of a Picking tray, micropaleontology slides and some samples. The samples were a hypothetical association that represented a specific environment and different time scale. The participant had to carry out the whole process of Picking, sorting and determining. Finally, with the percentage of morphogroups determine the environment, the variations through time and their possible causes. Through the results obtained, we can conclude that the game was effective to show the participants how micropaleontologist works In addition, the possibility of manipulating thematerial stimulated the interest of the participants by contributing to their learning. On the other hand, this tool potentiates the role of the child as a multiplying agent of knowledge.