Biotecnologia e microbiologia na educação básica: desenvolvimento de ferramentas pedagógicas para conscientização sobre o impacto do óleo diesel na diversidade microbiana do solo

Abstract

Basic education still follows a traditionalist model that, in many cases, hinders students' progress in terms of training and professional development. One of the most prominent alternatives in this new educational approach is vocational and technological education, which emphasizes the integration of academic content with real-world applications across various job markets. Microbiology teaching in public high schools is often neglected, primarily due to the complexity of the subject matter and the lack of experimental teaching alternatives that provide a professional perspective. In light of this, the present study aims to develop didactic methodologies for basic education using the impact of diesel oil on soil microbial diversity as a model. To assess the fuel's impact, a soil sample was collected in the municipality of Iranduba and transported to the Proteomics Laboratory at UFAM to analyze its microbial diversity. The soil was treated with PBS solution and PBS solution containing 5% diesel oil. It was observed that diesel interfered with bacterial diversity, indicating that the environment is altered and that the soil microbiome is directly affected by the chemical compounds present. Simultaneously, to enable didactic transposition and the transformation of scientific knowledge into school-level knowledge, pedagogical alternatives based on active learning methodologies were applied with 12th-grade students. The activities followed themes such as basic microbiology, fossil fuels, and bioremediation. The students showed great interest in the topic, with 96.4% of participants rating the activities as “excellent/good.” These students also had the opportunity to visit the Biophysics and Proteomics Laboratories at UFAM, with the goal of encouraging them to pursue higher education. This study contributed to the formation of citizens who understand the environmental impact of fossil fuels, particularly on microbial diversity, and raised awareness of the economic importance of diesel oil and the negative effects of improper or accidental disposal, which harms microbial diversity—essential for nutrient cycling and environmental balance. In addition to raising awareness, it is expected that the development of pedagogical tools enhanced students' learning and the assimilation of basic concepts.