Contribuições da educação popular e da pesquisa ação à adequação sociotécnica: estudo de caso de um curso na extensão

Abstract

Study contributions of the extension course called “Critical training in technical energy systems – Introduction” to identify how Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Popular Education (PE) could materialize a “Sociotechnical Adaptation” proposal (STA). This course was made by a common effort between Interdisciplinary Nucleus for Social Development (NIDES by its initials in portuguese) and Landless Workers’ Movement (MST by its initials in portuguese) and was chosen mainly because of its view and hospitality with the researcher. It worked not just with a critical perspective of a hardware technology, but also with those methodologies. To do this research, Case Study methodology was used, including a review of literature in two ways: first one, about PAR and PE, and second one, about the critical perspective that supports STA proposal. In this way, qualitative research constant comparative method (MERRIAM; 1998) was used to analyze collected data to find useful suggestions for actions with MST (highlighting how its organization works) and some recommendation for solar photovoltaic systems design (showing possible adaptations). Analysis also brought tentative adaptations of those systems and some methodological guidance to improve future extension activities in technical topics whether it is with other social movements and/or with other technique. This work also shows some mistakes and difficulties, trying to challenge future experiences to overcome those and to recognize new ones.