FROM THE CRIME SCENE TO THE LABORATORY: FORENSIC SCIENCE AS A TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Abstract

Contextualizing the teaching of science for students allows for a greater understanding of the content. Adopting active methodologies that assist educators in their classes and, at the same time, allow students to act as active participants in their learning is an innovative approach to teaching and learning. Thus, this study proposes a case study, divided into five stages and guided by active methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches in the teaching of exact sciences, using forensic science and criminal investigation as the theme to demonstrate the application of sciences in solving crimes. The activity was based on the active participation of students in the entire process of collecting and analyzing data identified at a crime scene, recreated based on the evidence from the "Isabella Nardoni" case, who was murdered in 2008. The objective is for students to investigate and analyze the evidence of the possible crime, applying their knowledge of exact sciences for this purpose. In this sense, it is important to emphasize that the theoretical and experimental classes conducted in the context of this practice aimed to engage students and promote the development of their cognition regarding the concepts of exact sciences and their real-life applications. Thus, we can conclude that the implementation of active methodologies, coupled with forensic investigative practice, has proven to be effective in the teaching process of exact sciences. Students were encouraged to acquire knowledge actively, resulting in a better understanding of the scientific theories discussed.