Initial teacher education and rural education: a game for teaching parasitology

Rural Education lacks methodologies consistent with its theoretical-epistemological paradigms and only a few studies were developed in a dialogical approach with its needs that would result in educational products for the field itself. In this article we present a game to teach parasitology in a more attractive and efficient way. The game Barbeiragem focuses on Chagas disease. This trypanosomiasis was chosen because it is a neglected and endemic tropical disease in Minas Gerais. In addition to the conceptual and prophylactic aspects, the game highlights the social function of scientists and health care agents, the importance of scientific dissemination, and investment in Science as well as in the primary care service. The activity was carried out by 22 students of the Degree in Rural Education, with an emphasis in Life and Nature Sciences, from Federal University of Minas Gerais. There was a good acceptance of the game as observed by several positive opinions of the students. We hope that this playful activity and carried out outside the classroom can contribute to the training of Teachers and instrumentalize them to develop it in their communities.