Freire’s model of adult education

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Can Freire’s model of adult education be used to design effective health
education digital games among adolescents?
Health education and health promotion programs are often
not very well received by adolescents, who perceive these to
be meaningless, thus making the task challenging. Monteiro
and colleagues (2018) experimented with the development of a
serious digital game (a game with an educational purpose) for
adolescents (aged 11 to 19 years) based on Freire’s model of
adult education. The game was called DECIDIX and focused on
imparting sexual and reproductive health education.
DECIDIX was developed by the Center for Studies and Research
on Vulnerability and Health in Childhood and Adolescence
(NEPVIAS) of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) in
Brazil. The game uses instant messaging around a storyline for a
teen to chat with another teen and make decisions about issues
such as sexuality, gender issues, liability for contraception, and
consequences and responsibilities in an unplanned pregnancy.
At the end of the game, participants reflect on their actions and
are debriefed by the instructor. The methodology was based on
Freire’s model of adult education.
For qualitative evaluation, data were collected through audio
recordings, focus group discussions, interviews, and observa-
tions by participants and nonparticipants. Collected data were
coded and categorized thematically. Four themes emerged: the
approach to daily life by adolescents, critical reflection, relation-
ship between educator and learner, and emancipatory (freeing)
learning and experience. The researchers concluded that
DECIDIX had a positive impact on the lives of adolescents and
engaged them in meaningful reflection.
Monteiro, R. J. S., Oliveira, M. P. C. A., Belian, R. B., Lima,
L. S., Santiago, M. E., & Gontijo, D. T. (2018). DECIDIX:
Meeting of the Paulo Freire pedagogy with the serious
games in the field of health education with adolescents.
Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 23(9), 2951–2962. https://doi.
org/10.1590/1413-81232018239.12782018
Questions for Discussion
1. Do you think Freire’s model of adult education can help
develop interesting and effective health education programs
for adolescents? Why or why not?
2. Do you think the case study adequately operationalized all
the constructs of Freire’s model of adult education? Why or
why not?

 

 

Sample Solution

. Yes, Freire’s model of adult education can potentially help develop interesting and effective health education programs for adolescents. Here’s why:

  • Emphasis on learner-centeredness: Freire’s model focuses on the experiences and knowledge of the learners, which resonates with adolescents seeking autonomy and understanding in their health choices.
  • Critical thinking and dialogue: DECIDIX’s focus on reflection and discussion aligns with Freire’s promotion of critical thinking and engagement with health issues, empowering adolescents to make informed decisions.
  • Problem-posing and context: Freire’s model encourages addressing real-world problems and contextualizing learning. DECIDIX’s interactive scenarios with practical consequences provide realistic scenarios for adolescents to navigate.
  • Emancipatory learning: Freire aims to liberate learners from oppressive narratives and empower them to become agents of change. DECIDIX’s focus on decision-making and personal growth aligns with this ideal.

2. The case study partially operationalizes Freire’s model, but there are potential areas for improvement:

  • Dialogue and collaboration: While DECIDIX promotes reflection, the focus on individual chat interactions misses the potential for collaborative learning and peer-to-peer dialogue emphasized by Freire.
  • Teacher as facilitator: The study mentions debriefing by an instructor, but the extent of their role in facilitating discussions and encouraging learner-driven exploration could be stronger.
  • Power dynamics: While Freire advocates for shared power between educators and learners, the case study doesn’t explicitly address how DECIDIX manages power dynamics within the game and avoids imposing predetermined knowledge.
  • Long-term impact: The study focuses on immediate responses and reflections, but assessing the long-term impact of DECIDIX on adolescents’ health behaviors and choices would further strengthen the application of Freire’s model.

Overall, the DECIDIX case study demonstrates promising potential for applying Freire’s model in health education for adolescents. By addressing the mentioned limitations and furthering research on long-term impacts and collaborative learning, game-based programs inspired by Freire’s model can contribute significantly to engaging and empowering adolescents in their health education.

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