The Cerrado and students' perspectives on the location where CEDDAG is situated

Abstract

This article aims to report and analyze the didactic-pedagogical experience conducted within the framework of the 13th Circuit of Ciências of public schools in the Federal District, focusing on valuing the Cerrado biome. The project integrates environmental education, a sense of ecological belonging, and technological innovation by engaging students from Centro Educacional Dona América Guimarães in research practices and prototyping a digital application. The Cerrado, known for its biodiversity and as one of the most threatened biomes in the country, serves as both an object of study and a catalyst for transformative action. The project’s methodology included interactive, interdisciplinary, and investigative stages, fostering collective knowledge construction and youth protagonism. As an educational product, students developed the project for a mobile application called "Mangaba Cerrado," featuring functionalities aimed at cataloging local flora. The results indicate a strengthening of students’ ecological awareness, along with greater recognition of science as a tool for social transformation. Finally, the study highlights the importance of integrating environment, education, and technology as a pathway toward active citizenship.