Aprender o semiárido: google earth como ferramenta de ensino sobre a desertificação no Seridó Potiguar

Abstract

This study analyzes the use of Google Earth as a didactic-pedagogical tool for teaching about desertification in the Seridó Potiguar, a region classified as a desertification nucleus in Brazil and marked by socio-environmental vulnerabilities. The research is guided by the central question: how can Google Earth contribute to the understanding of desertification processes among high school students? To address this, the study aimed to evaluate the application of a structured didactic sequence using Google Earth, focused on identifying and interpreting evidence of desertification in the municipalities of Seridó Potiguar. Methodologically, the research adopts a propositional and qualitative approach and was developed in four stages: literature review; diagnosis of students’ prior knowledge; implementation of the didactic sequence with the platform in a computer lab; and analysis of the data obtained through questionnaires and students’ productions. The results demonstrate that the activity supported the development of skills related to landscape reading, interpretation of historical imagery, and understanding of the relationships between human actions and environmental degradation, significantly enhancing students’ comprehension of desertification. The findings also indicate that Google Earth, by bridging theory and spatial reality, promotes greater engagement, investigative autonomy, and the strengthening of critical geographical thinking.