ECOLOGICAL APPROACH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: CREATION OF AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO FRESHWATER FISH

Abstract

The relationship between the environment and public education is becoming increasingly important, necessitating the development of new knowledge as well as techniques to enable better learning. Within this context, an environmental education approach is proposed, applied to the importance of aquatic resources, with emphasis on fish fauna, and based on the philosophy that to know is to preserve. Hence, an illustrated guide to freshwater fish has been created, containing basic information about the taxonomy, biology (diet and reproduction), ecology, and conservation status of individual species. This work used data from a master’s thesis in the field of zoology, specifically at the interface between ichthyology and limnology, which considered 24 species collected in a lagoon at the margins of the Jurumirim reservoir (river Paranapanema). This guide’s main source of inspiration and reference was a work entitled “Jurubatiba National Park: List of living creatures”, distributed to public schools in Rio de Janeiro State. In order to facilitate learning, the present guide was produced in the form of illustrated cards, on the front containing information on the study area, aspects of fish anatomy, a photograph of the species, and pictures showing aspects of ecological, culinary, economic and fishing relevance. On the reverse side of the guide is a description of the information on the front, presented in such a way as to arouse the students’ interest in more specific questions about fish and their environments. In addition, games and jokes in vivid and stimulating colors have been used, to make the material more interesting and engaging, and encourage a deeper learning. Experts have shown that this type of didactic material is highly suitable, because it allows the student greater interaction and closeness with the subject studied. It is hoped that this work, which comprises a Biological Sciences monograph, will be able to provide a model for other requirements in the educational field.