{"id":310,"date":"2025-05-06T16:07:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T19:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/?p=310"},"modified":"2025-05-27T09:14:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T12:14:17","slug":"por-que-ensinar-geotecnia-pode-e-deve-ser-divertido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/por-que-ensinar-geotecnia-pode-e-deve-ser-divertido\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Teaching Geotechnics Can (and Should!) Be Fun?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Dr Bruna Lopes
GeoFUNder<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Geotechnics\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When you think of geotechnics, what pops into your head?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When you think of geotechnics, what pops into your head? That classic combo of scary formulas, cryptic charts, and soil samples with that unmistakable earthy smell? Yep, it\u2019s all part of the package. <\/span>But what if I told you it could also include games, laughter, healthy competition, and even... potatoes?<\/b><\/p>\n

Welcome to <\/span>GeoFUN<\/b>a project that took geotechnical engineering by the hand and brought it on a joyride through the colourful world of active learning. Around here, we believe learning about soils, foundations, and geotechnical phenomena <\/span>doesn\u2019t have to be a grey and lonely.<\/b>It can \u2013 and should <\/span>\u2013 be bright, engaging, and yep, even fun<\/b>.

<\/span>From a Pandemic Idea to a Nationwide Project<\/b><\/p>\n

GeoFUN started as a small (but bold!) idea. Back in 2019, I created my first geotechnical board game about soil consolidation (yep, the name was Consolidate \u2013 we\u2019re always up for a good nerdy pun) as part of my final project for a Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. Even then, I knew play could be a serious force in education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2020: mid-pandemic chaos, casual conversation. I reached out to Dr Mariana Chrusciak \u2013 my partner-in-crime from our postgraduation days at University of Bras\u00edlia \u2013 and pitched a wild idea: let\u2019s get students at UFRR (where she works) to <\/span>create more games<\/b> on different geotech topics. Spoiler: it totally worked.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s how <\/span>GeoFUN<\/b>was born - in true \u201cdo it yourself and share it with the world\u201d style. <\/span>Soil Character<\/b> and <\/span>PermeAbility<\/b>were tested remotely via Google Slides (yep, Google Slides!), in an improvised online version that honestly worked way better than we expected.<\/span><\/p>\n

We Grew \u2013 A Lot<\/b><\/p>\n

Time passed, ideas kept bubbling, and in 2023, GeoFUN levelled up: we were awarded funding through <\/span>CNPq Universal Call (process no. 407439\/2023-4),<\/b>with the fabulous Dr Mariana Chrusciak now leading the charge.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this new phase, <\/span>educators and researchers from across Brazil<\/b> joined forces. Creative, passionate folks ready to turn geotechnical education upside down (in a good way!). We\u2019re talking about names like Adriano Frutuoso da Silva, Alex Bortolon de Matos, Rafaela Silveira, John Eloi Bezerra, Vin\u00edcius de Oliveira Kuhn, Caroline Tomazoni Santos, Roberta Bomfim Boszczowski, Helena Nierwinski, Adriana Maria Tonini, La\u00eds de Carvalho Faria Lima Lopes, Juliana Pessin, Dionatas Hoffmann Andreghetto, M\u00e1rcia Maria dos Anjos Mascarenha, Andrelisa de Jesus, Camilla Rodrigues Borges, Diego Arantes Teixeira Pires, and Larissa Aguiar. Whew!<\/span><\/p>\n

Altogether, we now have 12 amazing institutions<\/b> (UFRR, UNIFSSPA, UFERSA, UFOB, UFPR, UFSC, UFOP, UFF, UFMT, UFG, IFG, and IFB) co-creating, testing, adapting, and sharing high-quality geotech learning materials \u2013 all for free.<\/b>
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\u201cFun,\u201d Yes \u2013 But Grounded in Science<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite the playful name and all the cheeky vibes, GeoFUN is no joke. Every game, simulation, and activity we design is rooted in solid scientific principles and the philosophy of <\/span>active learning.<\/b>We test everything with focus groups, run it through ethics approval, and share it freely under a <\/span>CC BY-NC-ND license<\/b>because we believe in <\/span>open science and collaboration.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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So, what\u2019s on our \u201cboard\u201d right now?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n \ud83c\udfb2 Eight educational board games. <\/h3>\n \t\t \t

Each one covers a key geotechnical topic \u2013 from soil formation to unsaturated soil mechanics.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n \ud83d\udcbb Interactive simulations. <\/h3>\n \t\t \t

Built with Scratch, to help visualize complex stuff like shallow foundation bearing capacity.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n \ud83c\udfd7\ufe0f 3D physical models. <\/h3>\n \t\t \t

So you can literally see what used to be just abstract 2D sketches.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n \ud83e\udd54 Hands-on classroom experiment guides. <\/h3>\n \t\t \t

Using simple materials (yes, even potatoes!) to explore unsaturated soils and suction in a super fun, low-cost way.\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our Mission?\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To train a new generation of engineers who are:

\ud83e\uddf2<\/span> Passionate about geotechnics. <\/b>(even if they never thought they would be!)<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83e\udde0<\/span> Critical thinkers<\/b> and able to apply concepts with creativity<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf31<\/span> Driven by innovation, sustainability, and lifelong learning<\/b><\/p>\n

And we believe that all of this starts with how we teach \u2013 and how we learn.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Join us for a game?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This blog will be updated every two months with:<\/span><\/p>

\ud83c\udfac<\/span> Behind-the-scenes stories<\/b><\/p>

\ud83d\udce6<\/span> Updates on our games and simulations<\/b><\/p>

\ud83c\udf93<\/span> Thoughts on teaching and active learning<\/b><\/p>

\ud83e\uddea<\/span> Crazy (but useful!) ways to use our materials<\/b><\/p>

Plus, loads of tips on how to use GeoFUN in your classroom, events, workshops \u2013 or even at home.<\/span><\/p>


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The GeoFUN Team<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Por Dra. Bruna LopesGeoFUNdadora Quando voc\u00ea pensa em geotecnia, o que aparece na sua cabe\u00e7a? Quando voc\u00ea pensa em geotecnia, o que aparece na sua cabe\u00e7a? Aquele combo cl\u00e1ssico de f\u00f3rmulas cabeludas, gr\u00e1ficos indecifr\u00e1veis e ensaios de laborat\u00f3rio com cheiro de solo molhado? Pois \u00e9\u2026 tudo isso est\u00e1 no pacote. Mas e se eu te […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-didatica-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1589,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310\/revisions\/1589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geofun.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}