Cielos de Colombia: Representaciones externas de los estudiantes de sexto grado sobre constelaciones del zodiaco desde la perspectiva de la astronomía cultural

Abstract

The research aimed to elucidate the external representations, both linguistic and pictorial, constructed by sixth-grade students concerning constellations and zodiac constellations during activities rooted in cultural astronomy. Employing a qualitative-interpretative methodology within the hermeneutic paradigm and content analysis, a sample of 20 students from a bilingual school in Suba, aged 12-14, engaged in contextualized concept cartoons, Stellarium observations, and cultural stories from the Kogi and Sikuani peoples. Three analytical categories emerged: Modern, anthropological, and astrological approaches, revealing the evolution of student representations from viewing zodiac constellations as random elements to recognizing their scientific and cultural significance. Methodological analysis highlighted the substantial expansion of linguistic and pictorial representations through cultural astronomy activities, demonstrating enhanced learning through simulations, discussions, and questions. The use of contextualized concept cartoons inspired inquiry skills and facilitated exploration of novel concepts, supported by Stellarium. The transdisciplinary approach of Cultural Astronomy provided students with diverse perspectives, fostering knowledge beyond the science curriculum. The study established connections between seemingly distant topics, bridging stars with students' lives and intertwining scientific concepts like ecosystems with celestial movements. Ultimately, the research concluded that students' linguistic external representations shifted from astrology and modern thought towards a partial alignment with astrological and cultural perspectives.