O uso de simulador virtual PHET como metodologia de aprendizagem no ensino da Lei de Coulomb no ensino médio

Abstract

The teaching of Physics, especially Electrostatics and Coulomb’s Law, presents a degree of abstraction, generating comprehension barriers in Basic Education. The integration of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICTs), specifically virtual laboratories, emerges as a viable alternative to minimize this issue and compensate for the lack of physical infrastructure in schools. In this context, this work aims to analyze the impacts of a didactic intervention mediated by the PhET Interactive Simulations virtual simulator in the teaching of Coulomb’s Law, evaluating its effectiveness in reducing conceptual abstraction. The research, with a qualitative approach and an exploratory nature, was carried out with 15 first-year high school students from the Centro Estadual de Tempo Integral (CETI) José Pereira da Silva, located in the city of Teresina, in the state of Piauí. The methodological procedure consisted of conducting an investigative lesson using the digital tool, followed by the application of a structured questionnaire based on the MAREEA evaluation model. The instrument made it possible to measure students’ perceptions in four fundamental dimensions: usability, engagement, motivation, and active learning. The results obtained indicate that the platform acted as a relevant cognitive facilitator, allowing students to dynamically visualize and manipulate variables restricted to mathematical formalism. Data analysis revealed a positive reception, showing that the visual transposition of the content promoted greater interest, autonomy, and clarity in understanding the relationship between charges and distances.