O uso do Phet como estratégia didática no ensino de física: uma abordagem sobre as leis de Newton e sua aplicabilidade

Abstract

The advent of technologies has brought about profound social transformations. In the field of education, these changes have manifested themselves in improved access to information, personalization and customization of teaching, and increased engagement. In this context, the resources of the PhET Interactive Simulations simulator have favorably influenced students and educators through digital simulations. Considering these qualities, the purpose of this study was to analyze how PhET can contribute to the understanding of concepts related to Newton's Laws, fostering student engagement and improving the learning process in physics. In this context, its specific objectives were to identify the perceptions of students and/or teachers about the use of the PhET simulator in physics classes; and also to analyze the benefits and challenges encountered in the application of PhET in teaching Newton's Laws; in addition to verifying how the use of simulation favors conceptual learning and student engagement; and finally, to propose pedagogical recommendations for the use of PhET in experimental and digital activities. This research adopted a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) and obtained data through a questionnaire developed in Google Forms. It involved four participants aged between 34 and 41 years, all with higher education. Visual representations and content analysis were used to analyze the data. The conclusions were favorable, showing that the simulations provided by PhET Colorado optimize the teaching-learning process. The formulation and implementation of public policies that promote digital literacy and inclusion for students, teachers, and school administrators becomes imperative.