Lixo eletrônico: o meu e o seu – e agora! como proceder em sala de aula?

Abstract

In 2019 alone, Brazil discarded more than 2 million tons of electronic waste, of which less than 3% was recycled. The country is one of the leaders in the ranking in the production of electronic waste, occupying fifth position worldwide and first in Latin America. The School System performs fundamental role in society, as a space for the dissemination of knowledge, and as an environment for the development of critical and conscious thinking about current issues. In this context, the importance of improving teaching on the subject of electronic waste in courses aimed at training IT technicians stands out. The Factors that reinforce this need are evident: the lack of teaching material that helps teachers address the topic in the classroom; the theoretical and practical limitation of teaching strategies; the lack of knowledge among students and teachers regarding legislation, decrees, resolutions, and standards that govern the correct management of electronic waste; and, also, the chemical composition of this solid waste are factors that reinforce this need. Understanding the potential environmental impacts of electronic waste and how to manage it effectively is essential for complete professional training. Therefore, with this research, we sought to answer the following question: How to approach the topic of electronic waste with students on the technical course in IT education and technology in order to make them professionals aware of their environmental responsibilities? In this context the general objective of this study was to plan and implement a participatory pedagogical workshop on the topic of electronic waste in the IT Technician course in Professional and Technological Education. The work was developed at the Professional and Technological Education Unit of the Amazonas Technological Education Center in the Benjamin Constant Institute building. The research subjects were 24 students from the High School Technical Course in IT in Professional and Technological Education. The action research procedure with a qualitative focus was used. We held a pedagogical workshop organized into four Modules, the last module being an exhibition of electronic waste paintings produced by students. Data collection took place through the application of questionnaires. The results indicate that the pedagogical workshop was effective in expanding students' knowledge on the topic of electronic waste. They are now more aware of proper disposal options, the need for awareness and information, and the importance of correctly managing e-waste.