Prática de Campo no Ensino Superior: Levantamento e Análise de Dados Ambientais no Bacharelado em Ciências Biológicas

Abstract

Field classes in ecology integrate theory and practice, stimulate student interest, and promote meaningful learning. When well planned and guided, they foster critical reflection on socio-environmental issues and enhance content understanding, strengthening motivation and forming environmentally conscious citizens. This article reports a field class conducted in a Conservation Unit in Rio de Janeiro, where students collected data in nature without removing organisms and later analyzed this information in the classroom with teacher guidance. The study involved sixth-semester Biology students from a public university in Rio de Janeiro and was conducted in three stages: preparatory class, field trip to the Tijuca National Park, and subsequent data analysis using multivariate statistical techniques in PAST software. In the field, students observed and recorded different fungal morphotypes, fostering investigative skills and collaboration; in the laboratory, each group analyzed and interpreted the data, with the different analyses working like pieces of a puzzle that helped the class understand the phenomenon in an integrated way. Students were engaged throughout all stages and emphasized the importance of collecting and analyzing their own data. The practice demonstrates how experiential learning promotes autonomy, engagement, and critical thinking, integrating research and teamwork.