Ci\^ensa\c{c}\~ao: Gaining a feeling for sciences --- Ciensaci\'on: sentir la ciencia --- Ci\^ensa\c{c}\~ao: despertando um sentimento por ci\^encias

TL;DR

This paper presents Ci extsuperscript{ensa extcacute{c} extsubscript{a}o}, an open online repository of hands-on experiments designed to encourage Latin American students to experience science firsthand and develop research skills through easily integrated activities.

Contribution

It introduces a practical platform that addresses teachers' hesitations by providing accessible, engaging experiments to foster scientific curiosity and skills among students.

Findings

Increased student engagement in science activities.

Enhanced research skills among participating students.

Positive feedback from teachers on implementation.

Abstract

Ci\^ensa\c{c}\~ao, an open online repository for hands-on experiments, has been developed to convince teachers in Latin America that science is best experienced first hand. Permitting students to experiment autonomously in small groups can be a challenging endeavour for educators in these countries. We analyse the reasons that make teachers hesitate to apply hands-on experiments in class, and discuss how Ci\^ensa\c{c}\~ao was implemented to overcome these obstacles. The resulting student research activities are specifically designed to be easily integrated in formal science education at school, to foster research skills and, most importantly, to let young people get to know science as an engaging creative activity. ---------- Ciensaci\'on es un compilado abierto y en l\'inea de experimentos pr\'acticos que ha sido creado para convencer a los docentes latinoamericanos de que la mejor forma de vivir la ciencia es en primera persona. Permitir que los alumnos realicen experimentos de forma aut\'onoma y en peque\~nos grupos es una tarea desafiante para los educadores de estos pa\'ises. Analizamos los motivos por los cuales los docentes se resisten a utilizar experimentos pr\'acticos en clase y debatimos c\'omo se implement\'o Ciensaci\'on para sortear esos obst\'aculos. El resultado fue la creaci\'on de actividades de investigaci\'on para los alumnos, que pueden integrarse f\'acilmente a la educaci\'on cient\'ifica formal de las escuelas, con el objetivo de desarrollar habilidades cient\'ificas y, m\'as importante a\'un, para que los j\'ovenes puedan ver la ciencia como una actividad creativa e interesante. ---------- Ci\^ensa\c{c}\~ao, uma cole\c{c}\~ao aberta de experimentos pr\'aticos, foi desenvolvida para convencer a professores da Am\'erica Latina que ci\^encia \'e melhor entendida quando manuseada.