Initiating high school students in educational research: the role of images in science textbooks

Abstract

In this paper an educational innovation which introduces secondary school students in the rudiments of scientific research is showed. Embedded in a more global project in which various educational institutions participate, here the process followed in the development of a research on the illustrations of the science textbooks is described. Students meet regularly with the responsible of research to discuss its goals and to collaborate on data collection, their analysis and in drafting the conclusions. The more remarkable results are presented in a Congress together with the proceedings of the rest of the experiences carried out. The final conclusions are grouped around the achievement of the initial objectives, the nature of the illustrations analyzed, how students and teachers use them, the proposals for improvement of the teaching, and at last with an assessment of the experience.