Pedagogy of Alternation in the initial training of rural educators: contributions and challenges

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a study and promote reflections on the contributions and challenges of Pedagogy of Alternation in a Rural Education Degree Course, with a focus on Natural Sciences. For the development of the research, data were collected through questionnaires and from the analysis of the Course’s documents. The results showed contributions of Pedagogy of Alternation, which opens the possibility of graduates entering and continuing in university studies, and brings teachers and students closer to their communities. Challenges were also pointed out, such as the financial burden on undergraduates and the Course to cover housing expenses and cover transportation and food expenses; exhaustiveness and little use in University Time; the need for the graduates to get closer to the university environment and life during the Community Time; the importance of the adherence of the professors to teaching methodologies that are linked to the principles and foundations of Rural Education; the realization of integrative alternating; and the promotion of an inter and transdisciplinary Science teaching, aimed at the formation of rural educators.

Keywords

• pedagogy of alternation
• rural education degree course
• university time
• community time
• teacher training.