Metarecycling in Physics Education in Basic Education within the Context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through Technological Research

TL;DR

This paper explores how students in São Paulo applied metarecycling principles to reuse e-waste, creating functional devices like power banks and chargers, integrating physics, sustainability, and social aspects aligned with UN SDGs.

Contribution

It demonstrates a practical educational approach combining e-waste reuse, physics, and sustainability within a community project in line with UN SDGs.

Findings

Successful creation of a portable power bank and bicycle-powered charger

Validation of devices through charging time characterization

Enhanced awareness of sustainability and clean energy in education

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technologies in the first quarter of the 21st century has introduced significant transformations in various fields, such as communication, healthcare, and education. However, it has also led to an increase in the use and disposal of electronic devices, resulting in environmental challenges related to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), also known as e-waste. This phenomenon is observed in schools, where the integration and renewal of equipment have become essential for the development and implementation of new teaching strategies. Based on a technological research project, we present how students from a public school in S\~ao Paulo's countryside conducted e-waste reuse processes, applying the principles of metarecycling and physics knowledge to build a portable battery (power bank) and a smartphone charger powered by a dynamo attached to a bicycle. The appropriation of the relationships between science, technology, and social aspects was facilitated by validating the chargers through characterization tests of the charging time provided by the power bank and the bicycle-installed device under riding conditions. Educational actions within the community, involving concepts of sustainability, clean energy, and health benefits through physical exercise, were guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).