22-12-2009
21-12-2010
The project "Argumentar precisa-se!" arose from the assumption that argumentative competence is crucial in the curriculum structure of higher education, both because much of the work assigned to students needs to be properly argued to be cognitively appropriate, and because the exercise of democracy largely depends on this ability to choose and justify choices, inherent in argumentative reasoning. There is a significant body of literature, as well as research studies, focused on the development of critical thinking and, consequently, on the argumentative structure of reasoning. However, this is not the angle of analysis that emerges from the present project, as it is primarily concerned with the issue of how curricular units refer to, require, and/or promote argumentative reasoning, which is a concern arising from curriculum development.
The project analyzed the work produced by students from the perspective of mobilizing argumentative skills, using a sample of works developed in different curricular units from various programs of the 1st cycle at the Faculties of Engineering and Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Porto, during the 1st semester of the 2009/2010 academic year.
The proposed presentation aims to provide an account of: a) The real importance of argumentative practices in the processes of student training and assessment. b) The types of reasoning used by students in constructing their learning. c) The assessment processes in higher education, analyzed from a pragmatic communication perspective.
It also aims to contribute to the reflection on methods and instruments of assessment used in higher education.
Universidade do Porto - Investigação Científica na Pré-Graduação
Referência: PP-IJUP2009-19
Competência argumentativa;
desenvolvimento curricular no ensino superior.
CIIE / Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto FPCEUP - Portugal
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto