Description:
Gowin´s epistemological Vee was used as a teaching tool in experimental college physics classes (electromagnetism) at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil, replacing the use of the traditional lab report, under the premise that it would facilitate the understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in the laboratory. The introduction of the Vee took place gradually in the three steps: use of the traditional lab report, followed by a modified questionnaire of Gowin´s five questions and, finally, an adaptation of the Vee diagram for experimental activities. In traditional reporting we noticed a trend of students “to force” the experimental data in order to “prove” laws or assumptions of regularity in events, even when the nature of the activity was designed to show the contrary. With the use of the Vee diagram finally the relationship between theory and practice was better understood by students, who came to understand the importance of the theoretical prediction in the laboratory. We identified evidences of improvement in students’ reflections on the laboratory practice, suggesting a possible meaningful learning.