ACTION AND REFLECTION CIRCLES AS A STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATING TEACHING, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION

Abstract

This experience report seeks to present reflections on the use of Action and Reflection Circles (CAR in Portuguese) as a methodological strategy for developing actions that integrate teaching, research and extension (EPE in Portuguese), favoring the academic protagonism based on initiatives for producing and applying knowledge. CAR is presented as a methodological resource for developing public policies and tourist routes aimed at encouraging creative enterprises in the Brazilian semiarid region, specifically on the Grão Mogol Route of the Irapé Lake Circuit, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The actions carried out demonstrate CAR's potential as an intervention proposal that includes the effective action of social actors in the search for solutions to problems, generation of practical knowledge, empowerment of participants, flexibility, appreciation of subjective experience and promotion of change. However, the experience revealed important challenges to be managed, such as the difficulty of ensuring equal involvement of participants, conflicts of interest and management of time and resources. It can be inferred that CAR can enable critical, systemic and humanized training of the subject, revealing itself to be an effective dialogic mechanism, which articulates local knowledge and scientific knowledge to increase the effectiveness of interventions.