Abstract

POSTIGO, Yolanda  and  LOPEZ-MANJON, Asunción. Visual Representations of the Human Body: An Analysis of the New Elementary Science Textbooks in Mexico's Educational Reform. RMIE [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.53, pp.593-629. ISSN 1405-6666.

This study analyzes the natural conceptions of the visual representations of the human body that guide selection, design, and didactic treatment in the new elementary science textbooks (3rd grade to 6th grade) of Mexico's Integral Reform of Basic Education. Two types of conceptions are described: an intuitive conception, which assumes simplicity and facility in the use of images, along with a realistic representation; and a more complex conception of a constructivist nature that considers images to be an external system of representation with the difficulties their use demands. The results show that the underlying conception of the images of the human body from the 3rd to the 6th grades corresponds to an intuitive type with few changes, with respect to textbooks prior to the Reform.

Keywords : basic education; textbooks; biology teaching; image; Mexico.

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