Cultura oceânica : o jogo didático “dos mares, o melhor” como estratégia de ensino e sensibilização ambiental.

Abstract

The Ocean is essential for life on Earth, playing a crucial role in making the planet habitable throughout geological eras by producing oxygen, absorbing heat and carbon dioxide, and providing the majority of rainfall. However, in recent decades, global warming, ocean acidification, and other phenomena have intensified due to human activities, altering the structure and functioning of ecosystems. In the face of these challenges, Ocean Literacy (OL) has become a fundamental movement for raising awareness about issues involving the Ocean, becoming mandatory in the educational context in some municipalities and states such as Maceió and Alagoas. Nonetheless, there is a need for resources to support the promotion of OL in the classroom context, and educational games can be utilized as auxiliary tools for this purpose. In this context, this research aims to develop an educational game to assist teachers of upper elementary school in promoting OL and to validate the game with teachers working in the Basic Education sector in Alagoas. The game “Dos Mares, o Melhor” (Of the Seas, the Best) was developed based on the ADDIE model, considering knowledge of OL and the specific characteristics of Alagoas municipalities. For data collection, a virtual questionnaire was used, covering different aspects of the game and OL. The evaluation data indicate that the majority of teachers were already somewhat familiar with OL, although many do not frequently address the topic in the classroom. Most teachers responded positively regarding the design, gameplay, clarity, and understanding of the rules. Additionally, they expressed confidence that the organization of the game's content could contribute to student learning, as well as in its use and recommendation to other teachers. All educators agreed that the language used in the game is appropriate for the target audience, and over 90% consider the content suitable for the proposed age group. OL Principles 2 and 7 were the most easily recognized, while Principle 1 was the least recognized. The results indicate that “Dos Mares, o Melhor” represents a promising alternative for teaching OL to upper elementary school students, promoting OL learning in an interactive and playful manner, encouraging critical thinking, and addressing socio-environmental problem solving using local examples and accessible language.