Do virtual para a sala de aula: explorando o Instagram na divulgação científica e no ensino de Química

Abstract

This research investigates the use of Educational Materials for Science Communication (EMSC) in the area of Chemistry in the form of carousel posts on Instagram for the teaching and popularize of this science. From this perspective, the challenge is to arouse the interest of society and students in the subject, using elements of everyday life as the generating theme of the materials. The main objective is to assess the perception and quality of these materials in both digital and classroom environments. For this purpose, eight EMSCs were developed, covering chemistry topics in student's daily lives. The research, which is exploratory and took a quantitative-qualitative approach, analyzed the public's engagement with the posts on the social network using platform metrics (likes, comments, shares, and saves) and online questionnaires. Subsequently, the materials were applied in a lesson in three high school classes, and the tool's effectiveness was evaluated through questionnaires answered by the students. The research results show that the students were highly receptive to the EMSCs in virtual and classroom environments. The comparative analysis between the contexts allowed the potential and challenges of each to be identified and provided a basis for proposing improvements to the material. The study concludes that the use of these EMSCs in the form of Instagram carousels, contextualized with everyday chemistry, can contribute positively to the popularization of Chemistry. Moreover, it shows promise in increasing student interest and understanding of the subject, paving the way for a more interactive and engaging learning experience