Desenrolando o conhecimento: stop motion como recurso para trabalhar a dinâmica da molécula de DNA

Abstract

The field of Cell Biology has encountered significant challenges in both teaching and learning processes, stemming from students’ difficulties in grasping complex content and from limitations in infrastructure and equipment. The subject matter comprises abstract biological concepts of microscopic scale, often assessed through rote memorization. Understanding dynamic cellular processes exclusively through textbooks proves to be inadequate, as these processes require visual comprehension of movements involving structures invisible to the naked eye. In this context, videos present themselves as viable alternatives to enhance the assimilation of such processes. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the potential of four educational videos produced using the stop motion technique, portraying key aspects related to the DNA molecule, along with a didactic sequence comprising guidelines for video implementation and suggestions for complementary activities. The videos, created using modeling clay, address the structure, compaction, replication, and transcription of DNA. The stop motion technique renders the videos effective in capturing students’ attention, optimizing instructional time, enabling the creation of resources tailored to specific audiences, and fostering creativity and collaborative work. These qualities offer substantial benefits to the teaching of Cell Biology by facilitating the understanding of abstract concepts associated with DNA. The proposed activities within the didactic sequence are grounded in active learning methodologies, promoting not only a deeper engagement with the content but also the development of creative, collaborative, and technological competencies. Furthermore, they encourage students’ autonomy and enable them to recognize the interconnectedness inherent in all stages of the DNA’s dynamic biological processes.