PLAY NOW: THE USE OF DIGITAL GAMES IN GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Abstract

This study aims to reflect on the use of digital games as a teaching methodology for Geography classes in basic education. Children and adolescents show great interest in digital games. Thus, using this technology in the classroom can connect school content to the students' reality, fostering greater interest in learning Geography. Digital games stimulate cognitive development and enhance skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Consequently, the research aims to discuss how digital games can serve as a tool for teaching and learning Geography in the classroom, enabling alternative, more reflective, and autonomous ways of interpreting the world. The study employs a qualitative approach—exploratory, descriptive, and proposal-oriented in nature—grounded in action research to analyze the potential of these games through a literature review and practical tests. Following the testing period, interviews were conducted with the students; all of them evaluated the use of digital games in Geography classes positively, reporting that the methodology made lessons more interesting and participatory while facilitating learning, despite some difficulties noted due to a lack of school infrastructure.