Aventura Científica: Video Games as a Tool for Teaching Science in Elementary Education

• Rodrigo Jeremias Mendes UFV
• Pedro Moises de Sousa UFV https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4563-0033

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wsis.2024.33692

Abstract

This paper details the development process of a digital educational game named "Aventura Científica". Utilizing the Unity graphics engine and following agile methodologies emphasizing incremental and iterative application development, the game aims to teach general science topics in a captivating manner, exploring the imagination and playful side of elementary school children. "Aventura Científica" was tested in two public educational institutions with students in the 5th and 6th grades, aged 10 to 12 years, receiving positive feedback from both educators and students. The collected results suggest that the game can serve as a supportive tool in the teaching process.

Keywords: Education, Digital games, Science, Elementary education

References

H. Eshach and M. Fried, “Should science be taught in early childhood?” Journal of Science Education and Technology, vol. 14, pp. 315–336, Sep. 2005.

A. Cláudia Batista da Silva, C. Araújo Flor, A. Alves de Arruda, and R. Tavares, “A relevância do ensino de ciências na perspectiva de educadores do ensino fundamental,” Kiri-Kerê - Pesquisa em Ensino, vol. 1, no. 14, Dec. 2022. [Online]. DOI: 10.47456/krkr.v1i14.37910

E. S. França, D. Munford, and V. F. A. Neves, “Ciência e imaginação nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental,” Revista Brasileira de Educação, vol. 28, 2023. [Online]. DOI: 10.1590/S1413-24782023280084

A. Lillard, “Pretend play as twin earth: A social-cognitive analysis,” Developmental Review, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 495–531, Dec. 2001. [Online]. DOI: 10.1006/drev.2001.0532

L. Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations: German text, with a revised English translation, 50th ed. London, England: Blackwell, Dec. 2001.

R. S. Wadham, “An exploration of the history and importance of play,” British Newspaper Archive Blog, May 2021. [Online]. Available: [link]

D. Williams, “A brief social history of game play,” in Digital Games Research Conference 2005, Changing Views: Worlds in Play, June 16-20, 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2005. [Online]. Available: [link]

I. Granic, A. Lobel, and R. C. M. E. Engels, “The benefits of playing video games,” American Psychologist, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 66–78, Jan. 2014. [Online]. DOI: 10.1037/a0034857

D. Amoroso, “A história dos video games: do osciloscópio aos gráficos 3D,” Tecmundo, May 2021. [Online]. Available: [link]

M. De Aguilera and A. Mendiz Noguero, “Video games and education: (education in the face of a ‘parallel school’),” Computers in Entertainment, vol. 1, p. 10, Jan. 2003.

Y. Li, D. Chen, and X. Deng, “The impact of digital educational games on student’s motivation for learning: The mediating effect of learning engagement and the moderating effect of the digital environment,” PLOS ONE, vol. 19, no. 1, p. e0294350, Jan. 2024. [Online]. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294350

M. S. Siedler, M. C. Souza, R. C. Cardoso, T. A. Tavares, and F. J. Junior, “Uma volta pelo sistema solar: Aprendendo astronomia através de um serious game,” in Anais Estendidos do XXI Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames Estendido 2022). Sociedade Brasileira de Computação, Oct. 2022. [Online]. DOI: 10.5753/sbgames_estendido.2022.225644

A. R. Carneiro and V. T. Sarinho, “Life green: Um jogo digital para a conscientização ambiental,” in Anais Estendidos do XXII Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital (SBGames Estendido 2023). Sociedade Brasileira de Computação, Nov. 2023. [Online]. DOI: 10.5753/sbgames_estendido.2023.234020