ABOUT TEACHING-LEARNING PRACTICES IN NATURAL SCIENCE: WHAT IS AT STAKE IN GAMES METHODOLOGIES TO LEARN ABOUT NERVOUS SYSTEM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Teaching-learning. Natural Sciences. Nervous System. Playfulness.
The present work intends to study and understand the use of games as tools in teaching-learning Natural Sciences at Middle School. Therefore, this paper does not only put into practice a playful proposal to comprehend concepts and functions of human bodies’ nervous system, but also reflects on how this methodology can open a singular path to meaningful learning of Natural Sciences. Besides developing and applying games to a 7th grade classroom, this research intends to analyze qualitatively how the theme “human bodies’ nervous system” is developed in the National Basis Common Curriculum (Base Nacional Comum Curricular - BNCC) and reflect on a methodology of playful teaching for teaching-learning this same topic, insuring a more inclusive and democratic pedagogical practice. In order to achieve the proposed objetives, there is an ongoing action-research with Middle School students of a public school at Rio Claro city, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was conducted a series of evaluations to know what the students already have on the nervous system, in order to, afterwards, enable them to experience a game, called Battlebrain, created specifically to teach concepts and develop knowledge on the nervous system and its functions. The data from the students experience with the game mentioned will be collected through tests, questionnaires and recordings. They will be analyzed in light of content analysis according to Bardin (2011) and we believe that this data will point to the use of games as a methodological facilitator to the development of scientific literacy in a playful and pleasant form.