O uso do software Scratch no atendimento educacional especializado para o ensino de estudantes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been the subject of intense discussions and investigations in recent times, especially due to the significant increase in diagnoses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 100 children has autism. In Brazil, according to the 2023 School Census, conducted by the National Institute of Studies and Educational Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), in 2022, 636,202 students with ASD were enrolled. In this context, the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) assumes a fundamental role by emphasizing the relevance of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (TDIC) in schools, with the aim of forming critical, reflective, ethical citizens capable of understanding and using these technologies meaningfully in their daily lives. Corroborating the BNCC, the Statute of Persons with Disabilities reveals that the use of ICTs should be encouraged as instruments to overcome functional limitations and barriers related to communication, information, education and entertainment for people with disabilities. In this sense, the Scratch software stands out as an alternative tool to promote creative, interactive, functional, constructive and meaningful learning, with an emphasis on the protagonism and autonomy of students. Therefore, this research aims to investigate, from an ethnographic approach, how the use of Scratch software can favor the development of cognitive, social and communication skills of students with autism in the context of Specialized Educational Services (AEE). With a qualitative approach, exploratory and descriptive objectives, of the participant type, ethnography was adopted as the research logic to analyze the use of Scratch in AEE and its role as an instrument in the creation of methodological practices that meet the specific needs of students with ASD. The research resulted in the creation of an educational product consisting of a digital teaching guide with didactic sequences. This guide, entitled “Scratch in the Spectrum: Following the Path to Creative Learning”, is intended for AEE educators and proposes creative learning strategies aligned with the use of Scratch, offering comprehensive and playful resources. The guide presents specific strategies, practical examples and activity suggestions and is available in digital format in the UFC institutional repository.