Dermeval Saviani’s thought and education in science museums

Abstract

This work aims to conduct a dialogue between the thoughts of Brazilian philosopher and educator Dermeval Saviani and studies about education in science museums and centers. Firstly, we investigate the historical development of these institutions, and then analyze mentions to non-school forms of education in Saviani’s works. Based on the writings of this Brazilian educator, and considering the different meanings that the literature assigns to informal education and non-formal education, we propose to situate education modalities between the systematized/unsystematic and school/non-school categories. Thus, by understanding museum education as a modality of non-school education that is becoming systematized, and the specificity of museums concerning the concepts of knowledge and culture, we comment on some possibilities for these institutions to collaborate in making knowledge democratic, thus complementing and valuing school science education. In line with Saviani’s critical position, we consider that, as science museums and centers establish education actions, they could contribute to improve the quality of science teaching by establishing a communicative relationship between museum knowledge and school knowledge. Thus, the specificity of the museum institution as the guardian of human heritage is not dissolved, nor is the specificity of school as the transmitter of culture to new generations.