Educação e inovação tecnológica: plataforma gamificada para apoio ao ensino de língua portuguesa no ensino fundamental

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the potential of gamification in the teaching and learning process in elementary education through the design, development, and evaluation of the Sabiá educational platform, created specifically for this study. Sabiá is a gamified digital solution focused on reinforcing Portuguese language skills, in corporating elements such as scoring, rankings, achievements, daily challenges, and level progression to provide a playful and engaging learning experience. The decision to develop the platform as a mobile application was based on the usage context and the target audience’s profile: students from public schools who typically have greater access to mobile devices than to computers. The mobile format also encourages au tonomous use outside the school environment, expanding learning opportunities. Due to budget constraints, the initial development was limited to the Android version, given the high costs associated with publishing on iOS. The methodology adopted combined iterative development with qualitative testing and validation involving students and teachers from public schools. Results highlighted positive aspects such as ease of use, attractive design, and increased interest and continuity in educational activities. The main contributions of this work include: The creation of an accessible educational platform; The promotion of playful and motivating learning through gamification; The development of a modular technological foundation, enabling future expansion to other subjects and features. Limitations of the study include the initial focus on Portuguese language only, the platform’s dependency on internet connectivity, and the limited testing scale. Future work involves the development of additional modules for subjects such as Mathematics and Science, implementation of offline functionality, creation of analytical dashboards for teachers, and publication of an iOS version. This research reinforces the relevance of gamified digital technologies as supportive tools in educational processes, especially in contexts marked by low student motivation and limited access to resources, thus contributing to the democratization and improvement of basic education.