Paleoextinção: jogo em realidade aumentada para o ensino de paleontologia

Abstract

Teachingpaleontologyatinitialeducationallevelsisanimportantmatter. Thesubjectdeals with millions of years of knowledge accumulated, such as geological and geographic changes, in addition to the entire evolutionary process of the species. However, innovative resources to teach in this context are scarce, therefore requiring innovative ways of promoting the insertion of these contents in the classroom, as well as promoting the engagement and the motivation of students. Game-based learning has great potential to fill such a gap. This work aims to use game-based learning to improve the teaching-learning process in the field of paleontology. To reach this goal, this work proposes a board game supported by a software that uses features of Augmented Reality. Therefore, students can study while having fun in an immersive and motivating environment. A pilot study was conducted with students of a Biological Sciences graduation course trying to verify or increase the use of data before and after the use of PaleoExtinção game. This pilot study revealed that the paleontological contents contained in the game were absorbed by students, showing a large increase in learning. A study about students’ motivational gains involved was also conducted, showing the games with Augmented Reality under these conditions, and may be more attracted to the traditional classes, besides showing the game applied in the teaching-learning process. The game is designed to make it easier to build new board games for the same purpose but for any other discipline.