Orgânica Master: analysis of a card game used as a tool for teaching basic organic chemistry concepts.
Educational games; Organic chemistry; Gamified learning
Educational games have the potential to act as a complementary resource in the teaching and learning process of chemistry. They play a significant role in developing students' cognitive skills by familiarizing them with specific concepts and fostering interest in studying these topics. This study aimed to develop and implement a didactic game for 3rd-year high school students from public schools in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, integrating gamified learning into the educational process. The game was applied in two classes during the second semester of 2024, involving the participation of 42 students. It was grounded in David Ausubel's meaningful learning theory and Deci and Ryan's concept of intrinsic motivation, which emphasize the importance of engaging students through activities that promote understanding and autonomy in the learning process. The pedagogical proposal was implemented using a board game with cards addressing basic concepts of Organic Chemistry, with the potential to cover topics such as carbon chains, organic functions, representation forms, structural characteristics, and properties of organic compounds. The research followed a methodology combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches to measure the intervention's impacts. During its implementation, observations were made, questionnaires were applied, and students' testimonials were collected, indicating increased engagement, motivation, and understanding, which contributed to making the teaching process more dynamic, interactive, and effective. Thus, it is concluded that the use of the didactic game in chemistry education can be a tool to facilitate learning and increase students' interest.