The science contests as a didactic strategy

摘要

Since the past eight years, the Chemistry School of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, has organized an end of term contest about Physics experiments where students are asked to propose new developments or prove physic laws and principles through the design of devices and measuring processes that will improve technology. The success that has been obtained throughout these competitions can still be improved, most important, can be taken as a top didactic strategy for improving the process of teaching-learning Physics at the Chemistry School. The authors of the present article make several suggestions that could lead to a better organization of these events, to obtain results that will adjust to the students learning needs in a better way, and at the same time such activities would become the kind of experiences that will enrich the academic formation of our students.