Fortalecimiento del aprendizaje científico en la educación básica mediante el proyecto “Explora y Aprende”

Abstract

The present report summarizes the experience carried out at the Institución Educativa Técnica Miraflores, located in the department of Boyacá, within the framework of the Tutoring Program for Learning and Comprehensive Education – PTAFI 3.0. The implemented project, called “Explore and Learn”, had as its main purpose to strengthen scientific learning in basic education through the incorporation of experimental methodologies adapted to a rural context with significant infrastructure limitations, particularly the absence of a physics laboratory. The process began with a diagnosis of the community’s social, economic, and educational conditions, which revealed the high socioeconomic vulnerability of most students and the restricted access to technological and pedagogical resources. In response to this situation, innovative teaching strategies were designed, emphasizing the use of low-cost and easily accessible materials to foster creativity and collaborative work. During the teaching practice, various experimental activities were carried out and integrated into the curriculum for grades six through eleven. Among the most notable were: the holographic pyramid, the rubber band-powered car, the exploration of non-Newtonian fluids, the vinegar and baking soda rocket, tensegrity structures, and the determination of gravity using a simple pendulum. These activities allowed students to understand physical phenomena through observation, hands-on experimentation, and collective reflection, sparking curiosity, motivation, and interest in science. The analysis of the results showed significant progress both in the development of scientific competencies (observation, inquiry, argumentation) and in the students’ overall education by strengthening skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, emotional management, creativity, and teamwork. Likewise, the project demonstrated that it is possible to overcome material barriers in rural education through teacher commitment and pedagogical adaptation. In conclusion, the “Explore and Learn” project was consolidated as an innovative and replicable strategy that not only achieved the proposed objectives but also reaffirmed the idea that science teaching can become a meaningful experience even in contexts with limited resources. Its implementation highlights the importance of connecting school learning with the local environment and fostering in students a passion for experimentation and the construction of scientific knowledge.