Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Nesta dissertação estudou-se o contributo dos clubes escolares na promoção das
aprendizagens, com vista ao sucesso educativo. Este estudo de caso foi levado a cabo no
Agrupamento de Escolas de Gouveia e centrou-se num grupo de alunos que aí frequentam o
clube de radioamadorismo. Pretendeu-se confirmar o valor acrescentado que provoca nos
alunos o envolvimento nas atividades extracurriculares. O objetivo da investigação prendeuse
com a análise e reflexão sobre os impactos do radioamadorismo e das atividades de
radioamador no desenvolvimento pessoal dos alunos do AEG e na melhoria do seu
desempenho escolar.
A investigação justifica-se pela importância crescente do radioamadorismo como
hobby e a sua introdução em contexto escolar, tirando partido das suas dimensões sociais e
solidárias que podem vir a gerar nos alunos e restante comunidade escolar.
Participaram neste estudo 47 alunos do clube, 16 professores, 5 encarregados de
educação e o investigador como observador participante.
Esta dissertação inicia-se com uma abordagem teórica sobre as atividades
extracurriculares e os clubes escolares. Traça-se um enquadramento do que é o
radioamadorismo, quer como hobby, quer na sua vertente escolar como auxiliar do
desenvolvimento de competências académicas. Conta-se a história do clube de
comunicações do AEG desde o seu início até ao momento presente.
Numa segunda parte, procede-se ao enquadramento metodológico deste trabalho num
estudo de caso e procede-se à análise e interpretação de dados através das observações do
investigador insider, de depoimentos de alunos que já passaram pelo clube, de inquéritos
por questionário a alunos do clube e a professores ligados a esses alunos e de entrevistas a
encarregados de educação de alunos do clube. Foram analisados dados referentes às
atividades do clube, ao prazer em estar na escola e às dinâmicas de inclusão, às
competências pessoais, às transversais, ao desempenho escolar, à cultura geral, às taxas de
abandono e aos resultados escolares. Este estudo demonstrou o elevado valor acrescentado
que encerram as atividades extracurriculares e a educação não formal. Conclui-se que os
clubes são uma peça importante nas opções curriculares dos alunos, pois oferecem-lhes
motivação extra para além do seu currículo obrigatório. Confirma-se o importante papel que
um clube temático de radioamadorismo escolar desempenha num agrupamento de escolas.
In this work we studied the contribution of school clubs in the promotion of learning with regards to educational success. This case study took place in Gouveia Interschools Network and focused on a group of students who attend the school amateur radio club. Our aim was to analyze – and possibly confirm- the positive effects of the students' involvement in extracurricular activities like the amateur radio club on their personal development and academic achievement. The growing importance that amateur radio has gained in this school context, as well as the advantages it presents for students and the school community - both from a social and solidarity point of view - justify the choice of this object of investigation. Forty seven students - who are members of the radio club -, sixteen teachers, five parents, and the researcher as a participant observer, participated in this research. The dissertation begins by presenting a theoretical approach to extracurricular activities and school clubs. It draws on a framework of what amateur radio is, either as a hobby or as an aid in the development of academic skills. The history of the club's communications in Gouveia Interschools Network is told from its beginning to the present days. The second part presents the methodology adopted for this case study, as well as the analysis of the information gathered through the “insider” investigator's observations, testimonials from the students who participated in the club, the data collected from surveys administered to the club students and to the teachers connected to these students, and the interviews to the students’ parents. We also analyzed data related to the activities of the club, to the student’s level of satisfaction from attending the school, dynamics of inclusion, personal and social skills, school performance, general knowledge, the school dropout rates and school results. This study showed the high value added by extracurricular activities and nonformal education. Finally it also demonstrated that clubs are an important part of the students’ curriculum options because they offer them extra motivation beyond the national curriculum. The important role that an amateur radio club plays in a school is hereby confirmed.
In this work we studied the contribution of school clubs in the promotion of learning with regards to educational success. This case study took place in Gouveia Interschools Network and focused on a group of students who attend the school amateur radio club. Our aim was to analyze – and possibly confirm- the positive effects of the students' involvement in extracurricular activities like the amateur radio club on their personal development and academic achievement. The growing importance that amateur radio has gained in this school context, as well as the advantages it presents for students and the school community - both from a social and solidarity point of view - justify the choice of this object of investigation. Forty seven students - who are members of the radio club -, sixteen teachers, five parents, and the researcher as a participant observer, participated in this research. The dissertation begins by presenting a theoretical approach to extracurricular activities and school clubs. It draws on a framework of what amateur radio is, either as a hobby or as an aid in the development of academic skills. The history of the club's communications in Gouveia Interschools Network is told from its beginning to the present days. The second part presents the methodology adopted for this case study, as well as the analysis of the information gathered through the “insider” investigator's observations, testimonials from the students who participated in the club, the data collected from surveys administered to the club students and to the teachers connected to these students, and the interviews to the students’ parents. We also analyzed data related to the activities of the club, to the student’s level of satisfaction from attending the school, dynamics of inclusion, personal and social skills, school performance, general knowledge, the school dropout rates and school results. This study showed the high value added by extracurricular activities and nonformal education. Finally it also demonstrated that clubs are an important part of the students’ curriculum options because they offer them extra motivation beyond the national curriculum. The important role that an amateur radio club plays in a school is hereby confirmed.