Um currículo construído em torno do mar

: génese, desenvolvimento e potencialidades de um projeto

Abstract

The consistency of the curriculum organization is not in line with the students’ heterogeneity and interests. Adding to this is the fact that the curriculum is disjointed and fragmented, lacking coherence and sense of unity to prepare motivated, aware and responsible citizens. This work refers to the potential contribute that a Sea Curriculum, cross-sectional to the formal curriculum, might fill in the gaps of the formal curriculum in its three school roles: instruction, socialization and stimulation. Formal curriculum doesn’t contemplate the opportunities that the Ocean can offer to our country and as such, it’s necessary to spread and promote Portugal´s geographical consciousness, as well as its narrow relation with the sea. The research follows a study case - the implementation of the Sea Curriculum in a private school in Matosinhos, a region clearly connected to sea matters. Our aim was to study the objectives, organization, processes and effects on learning and results with the introduction of this curriculum and also the difficulties and consequences of its implementation. In this study we had the contribution of students from elementary, junior high school and high school, the school administration, pedagogical board, teachers, parents and guardians, as well as researchers. We used a qualitative methodology, using documental analysis, semi-structured interviews, class-observation and practical activities, in order to get to the conclusions we needed to improve the implementation of the curriculum. The results lead us to conclude that this curriculum implementation was considered a capital-gain by the educational community and a project with potential to prepare well- informed and responsible citizens. Nevertheless, our current educational system complicates its introduction among teachers with a more traditional or conservative way of facing the teaching-learning process.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Matias Alves (Supervisor)