O ensino de eletricidade no ensino médio mediado por simuladores digitais: uma revisão bibliográfica comparativa entre o Phet e o Tinkercard Circuits

Abstract

This work presents a comparative literature review based on an initial research question: Between the digital simulators PhET and Tinkercad Circuits, which one proves to be more viable and practical for teaching electricity in high school?. To answer this question, the general objective was defined as follows: to compare the viability and practicality of the digital simulators PhET and Tinkercad Circuits in teaching electricity in high school, based on the analysis of their pedagogical applicability and the results obtained in academic research. Accordingly, the specific objectives were to analyze the potentialities and limitations of PhET and Tinkercad, and to compare their accessibility, interface, features, and didactic applicability. Regarding the methodology, a review of nine studies (four on PhET and five on Tinkercad) was conducted, organized into five analytical categories: accessibility/usability, resources, pedagogical potential, limitations, and convergences/divergences. The results allow us to assert that both PhET and Tinkercad contribute to the development of meaningful learning. PhET stands out for its conceptual visualization and accessibility (being more suitable for remote contexts and limited-resource environments), while Tinkercad excels in practical experimentation, prototyping, and integration with Arduino; however, it requires greater computational capacity and user familiarity. As for convergences, they suggest a complementary relationship between the two environments and confirm the initial hypotheses. Therefore, it can be concluded that the research question was answered: PhET and Tinkercad are valuable and complementary pedagogical tools. Furthermore, it is recommended to align the choice of simulator with the lesson’s objective, to combine both whenever possible, to invest in teacher training, and to expand empirical and longitudinal studies.