Training Memorials in an Undergraduate Program in Chemistry Teacher Education: An Opportunity to Revisit, Reflect, and Transform the Meanings of Teaching

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35819/tear.v14.n1.a7668

Abstract

The article discusses the importance of (auto)biographical narratives in teacher education by analyzing training memorials produced by undergraduate students in Chemistry Teaching and other related programs at a public university in Porto Alegre. The central objective is to identify elements of these students’ personal and academic trajectories that influence their connection with teaching and to understand how reflective writing can contribute to their professional development. The research follows a qualitative, documentary, and exploratory approach, with textual analysis based on three stages: pre-analysis, thematic reading, and comprehensive-interpretative reading. This procedure considered the documentary corpus as having heuristic value and was inspired by the phenomenology of experiences. Data were collected through training memorials written by students enrolled in a course called Introduction to the Teaching Field, complemented by the course instructor’s field journal and institutional documents. The results highlight that factors such as school experiences, interactions with inspiring teachers, family influence, and engagement with the field of Natural Sciences play a decisive role in choosing a teaching career. Some students reported experiencing transitional periods and uncertainty in their academic paths. Critical perceptions of the profession also emerged, such as low salaries and precarious working conditions, although most participants demonstrated a strong commitment to the teaching profession. The study reinforces the potential of (auto)biographical narratives as a formative tool, fostering the emergence of existential dimensions related to being a teacher. It also emphasizes the need to expand discussions on training models so as to prioritize critical approaches that promote a transformative outlook for society.

Keywords: Teacher education. Training memorials. (Auto)biographical research.

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Author Biography

  • Carlos Ventura Fonseca, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

    Professor adjunto da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), sendo vinculado ao Departamento de Ensino e Currículo (DEC) da Faculdade de Educação (FACED). Possui doutorado em Educação (2014), com tese versando sobre a formação de professores de Química e estruturas curriculares das licenciaturas. Em 2010, obteve o título de mestre em Química, com dissertação desenvolvida na linha de pesquisa Educação em Química.  Lidera o Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre Desenvolvimento Profissional e Docência em Ciências (GEPEDDOC) e atua na Sociedade Brasileira de Ensino de Química, como representante da Região Sul, no período 2024-2026. 

Published

2025-07-15

How to Cite

Training Memorials in an Undergraduate Program in Chemistry Teacher Education: An Opportunity to Revisit, Reflect, and Transform the Meanings of Teaching. #Tear: Journal of Education, Science and Technology, Canoas, v. 14, n. 1, 2025. DOI: 10.35819/tear.v14.n1.a7668. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ifrs.edu.br/index.php/tear/article/view/7668. Acesso em: 7 jun. 2026.