Engajamento digital e social de moradores do bairro Pici a partir da metodologia educomunicativa

Abstract

Learning is inherent in every human being, at all stages of life. However, people in the 50 to 75 age group are generally stereotyped as slow or even incapable learners. This type of prejudice and even exclusion is called “ageism” by Castro (2015). When such learning relates to the use of technological tools, another layer of exclusion is added, considering that adults with older ages are considered to be unable to achieve technological appropriation in a competent manner. This work deals with a qualitative investigation of the methodological experience developed in the university extension project “UFC and the Community: Training of young people from Planalto Pici”, in which the digital literacy of a group of women artisans from the Planalto Pici community is sought. The project, developed at the UFC Virtual Institute, seeks to promote contact between the university and the community, through workshops on digital media offered by the students themselves. Using the educommunicative methodology through the pedagogical foundations of Paulo Freire, among others, we sought to learn based on dialogue, the exchange of knowledge and the understanding that “educating is always communicating”. Through observations and interviews with residents of Pici who participate in the workshops offered by students of the Bachelor of Systems and Digital Media, with themes focused on technology, we seek to understand the value and effectiveness of the methodology chosen for the project and describe the digital engagement and social in the university extension project “UFC and The Community: training of young people from Planalto Pici” ;. We also seek to highlight the importance of digital inclusion in the lives of the residents of that neighborhood. It can be seen from this study that Educommunication made a difference in the teaching moments within the project, highlighting the lovingness, welcoming and dialogue as key points of the course.