AbstractGIS as a Tool for Teacher Education Candidates in Brazil Track: Educational Research and Teacher Education Author(s): Christiane Gioppo, Ricardo da Silva Biology Education majors at the Federal University of Parana, South of Brazil, did an activity with GIS and described their expectations on the use of this tool in the future as biology teachers. Teacher candidates accomplished an activity about spatial distribution of dengue, a serious disease in Brazil. They compared maps, developed with ArcView 3.2, to determine higher dengue incidence areas, the reasons for such distribution, and dengue control methods. Maps contained information about dengue distribution in the state of Parana from 1995 to 2003, the mosquito vector (Aedes aegypti) distribution, climatic categories on different areas, and main state roads. Teacher candidates gave feedback about the use of this activity in a public school. They pointed out the lack of school infrastructure to develop this kind of activity but, on the other hand, comments were very positive regarding the important social role of the activity for health education in Brazil. Christiane Gioppo Universidade Federal do Parana Rua General Carneiro, 460, sala 505 Curitiba, Parana 80060150 BR Phone: 554133369040 E-mail: cgioppo@yahoo.com Ricardo da Silva Universidade Federal do Parana Rua General Carneiro 460 sala 505 Curitiba, Parana 80060150 BR Phone: 554133526394 E-mail: ricardosilva@sulbbs.com.br |