Valuing science and the teaching of Physics through theatrical communication

TL;DR

This paper explores using theatrical communication as an innovative didactic tool to teach physics and astronomy, making science more accessible, engaging, and entertaining for diverse audiences.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach of integrating theatrical scripts into physics education to enhance student engagement and understanding through creative communication.

Findings

Students engaged in theatrical activities showed increased motivation.

Theatrical communication facilitated better understanding of complex scientific concepts.

The approach promoted collaborative and creative learning environments.

Abstract

Scientific communication inside and outside the classroom is the main means for providing an adequate understanding of how science and technological innovation relate to society. In order to achieve this goal, it is important to explore new didactic instruments for teaching science in general. The intersection between science and arts has contributed to make science accessible, relevant and interesting to diverse audiences with the potential to provide scientific content, significant artistic and entertainment values. Here, we use theatrical communication to value science and the teaching of Physics through an original script of a play in which concepts and phenomena related to astronomy are addressed. Using an artistic and casual language, we adapt the proposed scientific concepts to the contextual and instrumental nature of theater to demonstrate its educational value and its potential to transform science into entertainment. Our proposal allowed students being engaged in a highly motivating and collaborative environment, providing them the opportunity to recognize, analyze and imagine explanations and performances to communicate science to the general public in a creative and alternative way.