O uso de filme como recurso pedagógico no estudo das epidemias: possibilidades na aprendizagem significativa

Abstract

This research arose when searching for a teaching methodology that would value scientific knowledge with the use of an alluring pedagogical resource – commercial movies – to encourage meaningful learning. To this end, it provides an analysis of how students establish relations of scientific knowledge with movie images, and the possibilities of contextualization on the topic of “epidemics”. The research methodology comprehends a qualitative approach, including some quantitative data of the students’ impressions regarding movies in general, and about the movies and learning. The categorization according to Bardin (2011) was used in the qualitative research to organize the contextual units produced by the students in the educational activities, and to conduct an analysis based on the assumptions of Ausubel’s Theory (2003) and Ausubel, Novak and Hanesian’s Theory (1980). From the showing of the movie entitled “Contagion”, used as an advance organizer, we tried to identify prior knowledge on the subject through questions raised by the students. Those same questions brought up the subtopics, categorized as epidemics, causative agent, incubation, transmission, symptoms, prevention and immunity. These categories served as elements for the analysis of learning evidence, leading to the conclusion that movie narratives help in the creation of cognitive bridges while contributing to derivative and correlative subordinate learning, progressive differentiation and integrative reconciliation, as well as promoting assimilation and retention of scientific knowledge. The theoretical background used to investigate the movies as a pedagogical resource presents the considerations of authors such as Rosália Duarte, Milton Almeida, Maria da Graça Setton, Marcos Napolitano, José Manuel Moran, among others. As a product of this research, a guide with other pedagogical proposals that make it possible to work with the topic of “epidemics” was developed by using commercial movies as advance organizers and for contextualization. The guide also shows a timeline of cinema and education, as well as a catalog with movies and series that deal with the topic of “epidemics”.