Critical reading of scientific dissemination texts from a freireana perspective
Media; critical reading; freirean perspective; Acronym CRITIC
The literature reports different studies related to critical reading in science teaching referencing analytical instruments, some focusing exclusively on the study and analysis of the skill others addressing teaching strategies and activities, among others. In particular, our investigation seeks to compare some of these instruments with Paulo Freire's perspective of critical reading in news disseminated by the media. To this end, we designed activities from the CRITIC instruments developed by Bartz (2002) and their adaptations supported by Paul and Eider (1998) and Silva, Bargalló and Prat (2017). Specifically, our intention was to analyze the reading process developed from a Freirean perspective and compare these instruments with the reading of texts addressing biochemistry concepts. The intervention was developed in 2 moments with high school students of technical level in food at IFRN - Campus Currais Novos. In the 1st moment it included 3 stages: before reading (images and title); during reading (text of the news and use of CRITIC); after reading (clippings of the article text). In the second moment, we inserted a 4th stage for rewriting the news, seeking approximation to the Freirian referential. We observed in the students' speeches, discrete relations with the technical formation in food. They questioned the scientific methodology used to present the information in the texts, such as data collection and treatment. In addition, they pointed out social concerns regarding such information for "lay" readers, alerting to the manipulative possibilities of the same. Regarding the analysis of the acronym CRITIC, we identified 2 characteristics that distance from Freire's perspective of critical reading, which correspond to the student's world context and dialogue, essential pillars in Freire's pedagogy. As for the analysis directions, we highlight that they are possibilities to help the teacher in the interpretation of the results obtained from the use of the generating questions and the rewriting of the news. Such results originated two publications (a book chapter and a scientific article) and a proposal of a critical reading activity in the light of Freirian thought (involving the student from the choice of the generating theme, the use of generating questions in substitution of CRITIC, and the free rewriting of the news). We emphasize, that the reading of news texts with scientific content, added positive ways in the search for relating the students' world context with the disciplines worked in the food technical course, and can contribute in a fruitful way in the formation for criticality.