MECHANICAL WAVES: MEANINGFUL LEARNING FROM MOOC

Abstract

The results referring to physics in Enem exams in recent years have revealed the difficulties of students in the process of learning physics. In this study, we highlight how significant learning through the teaching of mechanical waves: a proposed didactic series using video lessons and e-books via Massive Open Online Curse (MOOC), contributes according to David Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning. Therefore, it was necessary to describe the concepts, characteristics and phenomena of mechanical waves, present the main points of David Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning, expose and evaluate the contributions of this theoretical model to the teaching and learning of mechanical waves. An empirical classroom research was then conducted, where data was produced and analyzed from the theory of meaningful learning. In view of this, it was found that there was a predisposition of the students to relate to the new knowledge. In fact, the material proved to be a potential facilitator of learning and the results from the activities and post-test were satisfactory, which imposes the statement that if we take into account the student's prior knowledge and use certain strategies and certain instruments to facilitate learning, in addition to working on the student's motivation so that he/she is willing to relate and give meaning to what he/she learns, there will certainly be learning in physics.