Aprendendo história com jogos digitais: o jogo Assassin’s Creed Unity em sala de aula

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the educational environment in the different learning cycles has led to an increasing number of methodological possibilities. The theme of the present study is the use of digital games in the classroom, more specifically in the discipline of History. The general objective is to analyze the game Assassin's Creed Unity as a methodological possibility in the History classes on the French Revolution. The game analyzed is classified as a history game, that is, a simulation game that portrays the past, not necessarily in a trustworthy way, but which reconstitutes a certain historical period, its clothes, constructions, armaments, etc.. Assassin’s Creed Unity is a simulation, action and adventure game set in the French Revolution (1789-1799). This period is marked by great social tensions between the nobility and the people. This event was of great importance in Western history, in such a way that it marks the end of the Modern Age and the beginning of the Contemporary Age. Assassin’s Creed Unity was launched by the French company Ubisoft at its headquarters in Canada in the year 2014. It is part of a series of electronic games and it is based on the rivalry between two secret societies: the Assassins and the Templars. The objectives established for this work were: to describe the main characteristics of digital games, more specifically of history games; to identify the methodological possibilities of digital games and to present a didactic sequence to use the game Assassin’s Creed Unity in the classes on French Revolution. This study adopted a qualitative research design and it also followed an evaluation research design. The aim was to try to verify the pedagogical potential of history games. The results were the delimitation, description and analysis of three categories of elements that are present in the game and that can be used didactically and pedagogically. Based on these categories, a didactic sequence contemplating the game Assassin’s Creed Unity is proposed for classes about the French Revolution. This research seeks to bring elements that can help teachers to use digital games didactically in history classes.