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In a diagnostic context of reasoning about instructional quality, scientific reasoning skills can be described as diagnostic activities, which require professional knowledge. Different approaches to enhance pre-service teachers’ professional knowledge (PCK, CK, PK), as well as diagnostic activities exist. However, results about their effectiveness are still inconsistent. We systematically investigated the effectiveness of self-directed knowledge acquisition via texts on PCK, CK, PK, and diagnostic activities of 81 pre-service biology teachers following an experimental design. Paper-pencil tests, measuring PCK, CK, and PK, and the video-based assessment tool DiKoBi Assess, measuring diagnostic activities in the context of diagnosing instructional quality, were used pre and post an intervention. Intervention included four treatments on self-directed knowledge acquisition via texts on (1) PCK, (2) CK, (3) PK, (4) combination PCK/CK/PK. Treatment (5) served as control. Mixed ANOVAs showed large time effects for PCK and CK, but no interaction effect concerning knowledge facets between time and treatment for any of the treatments. Time effects might be due to pre-service teachers’ scientific reasoning on biology instruction that activated knowledge. An ANCOVA showed no significant effect of treatment on diagnostic activities either. We conclude that scientific reasoning about instructional quality is more effective for knowledge acquisition than text-work.

Este artículo resume aportes de la tesis doctoral acerca de los conocimientos botánicos de estudiantes de origen mapuche. Se revisaron los problemas sociales del pueblo mapuche, en particular sobre ambiente y educación. Se examinó la taxonomía botánica presente en la lengua mapuche, lo que reveló la importancia de la diversidad vegetal para tradiciones, usos y cosmovisión mapuches. Entre los estudiantes de enseñanza media de origen mapuche se apreció que sus conocimientos de biología vegetal constituyen un rico aporte y que estudiantes que inician estudios universitarios de Ingeniería Forestal y Agronomía tienen un conocimiento muy inferior. La enseñanza formal puede aprovechar este potencial en una educación científica intercultural para la protección de ecosistemas amenazados. This paper summarizes the contributions of a doctoral thesis on the botany knowledge of students of Mapuche descent. Social problems of the Mapuche people are described, especially those related to education and environment. By examining the botanic taxonomy in Mapuche language, the importance of vegetable diversity to the Mapuche people and their traditions and vision of the cosmos was revealed. Mapuche students at middle schools were shown to have much more knowledge of vegetable biology than college students at the beginning of their studies in forest engineering and agronomy. Formal education may use this situation to its advance, in search of intercultural scientific education and the protection of threatened ecosystems. Cet article rassemble les contributions de la thèse doctorale par rapport aux connaissances botaniques des étudiants d’origine mapuche. On a fait un bilan des problèmes sociaux du peuple mapuche, notamment sur l’environnement et l’éducation. On a examiné la taxonomie botanique présente dans la langue mapuche et cela a montré l’importance qui a la diversité végétale pour les traditions, usages et cosmovisions mapuches. Parmi les étudiants d’enseignement moyen d’origine mapuche on a apprécié leurs connaissances en biologie végétale qui constituent un riche apport et qu’on ne trouve pas dans les étudiants qui ont commencé leurs études universitaires d’Ingénierie Forestier et Agronomie. L’enseignement formel peut profiter de ce potentielle dans une éducation scientifique interculturelle pour la protection des écosystèmes menacés. Este artigo resume contribuições da tese doutoral a respeito dos conhecimentos botânicos de estudantes de origem mapuche. Revisaramse os problemas sociais do povo mapuche, em particular sobre ambiente e educação. Examinouse a taxonomia botânica presente na língua mapuche, o que revelou a importância da diversidade vegetal para tradições, usos e cosmovisão mapuches. Entre os estudantes de ensino médio de origem mapuche se constatou que seus conhecimentos de biologia vegetal constituem uma rica colaboração e que estudantes que iniciam estudos universitários de Engenharia Florestal e Agronomia têm um conhecimento muito inferior. O ensino formal pode aproveitar deste potencial numa educação científica intercultural para a proteção de ecossistemas ameaçados.