Investigación sobre la percepción de invertebrados en futuros docentes de Educación Infantil a través de una plataforma gamificada

Abstract

Currently, it is necessary to promote a positive view towards invertebrates in order to promote their conservation. The objectives of this research were to determine, in students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, if the preference for images of invertebrates increases after observing them, if there is a relationship between attitude and choice of an invertebrate as a pet, and if there is a predilection for photographic images with respect to illustrations for different animals. The study involved 56 students who were taking a science subject using the Fantasy Class platform, which allows them to have an avatar accompanied by a pet. Before and after interacting with crickets in a hands-on activity, they were asked to choose a mascot (each offered in illustrated and photographic format). Furthermore, the animals selected in different tasks were recorded. A slight increase in the preference for invertebrates was observed in the second choice of a pet, and a relationship between the choices and the themes of the tasks was found. It is noteworthy that the cricket was the least popular animal and that it was not selected in photographic format. These results suggest that modifying students’ negative perceptions of insects is a challenge and that they prefer to address these issues through illustrations, which supposes a limitation in their teaching.