CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC PISTON ENGINE AS A DIDACTIC STRATEGY FOR TEACHING ELECTROMAGNETISM IN HIGH SCHOOL
Electromagnetism; Active Learning Methodologies; Action Research; High School Education.
This study focuses on the teaching of electromagnetism in high school, grounded in David Ausubel's Theory of Meaningful Learning and active learning methodologies, particularly Project-Based Learning (PBL). The proposal involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of an elective course centered on the construction of an electromagnetic piston engine as a pedagogical strategy to integrate theory and practice, promote student protagonism, and make learning more concrete and contextualized. The objective is to facilitate students' understanding of the fundamental concepts of electromagnetism while fostering curiosity, scientific inquiry, and the development of cognitive, technological, and collaborative skills. The research will be conducted using the action research methodology at Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental e Médio Professora Quitéria de Oliveira da Silva, located in Ariquemes, Rondônia, Brazil, over the course of 13 sessions lasting 96 minutes each. Data will be collected through direct observations, field notes, and diagnostic questionnaires (pre- and post-tests). The results will be analyzed qualitatively based on evidence of learning and the changes observed in students' practices and conceptions. It is expected that participants will develop a meaningful understanding of electromagnetic phenomena by connecting theory with practice, while also increasing their interest in science and experimental activities, thereby strengthening the role of Physics education as a means of fostering critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and transformative learning.