TOURIST EDUCATION: DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL USE

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a prototype of a mobile application called ApPETur, aimed at supporting the teaching-learning process in tourism education in the context of high school. The hypothesis is that the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), integrated into pedagogical planning, can increase student engagement and promote meaningful learning about tourism topics. The problem investigated refers to the lack of specific digital educational resources that address, in a contextualized and interactive way, content related to tourism education in public schools. The methodology adopted included the development of a functional prototype using TypeScript for the Android® platform, structured based on principles of usability, accessibility and curricular alignment.The application organizes its content into thematic modules (called program content), which cover topics such as local culture, architectural heritage, the environment, cultural events, and professional opportunities. Each module contains informative texts, images, links to external videos, and learning activities, in addition to allowing authorized teachers to insert new content. As a result, ApPETur offers easily accessible tool that promotes interdisciplinarity and encourages teacher and student protagonism. This work contributes to the field of digital education by presenting an applicable and replicable technological solution, with potential social and academic impact, and paves the way for future research that explores the integration of educational applications in different areas of knowledge.