Unraveling the Enigma of Digestion: A Digital Educational Activity as a Tool for Teaching Digestive System Physiology

Human physiology is challenging for undergraduates due to its abstract nature. The summer course " human physiology: practicing and discussing physiology" offered by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo has fostered innovative teaching strategies for over two decades. In 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course was offered remotely, requiring adaptation of practical activities to a virtual environment. We developed a virtual didactic activity called " Unraveling the Enigma of Digestion: Digital Marathon" using Google Forms integrated with social media. Designed as a board-game-like experience, each stage involved online games, storytelling, puzzles, crosswords, and interactions with fictional characters, addressing macronutrient digestion and absorption. Progression required applying concepts from classes. This report describes the structure and implementation of the digital marathon in a remote teaching context. The proposed approach represents a flexible and low-cost strategy to support engagement and active learning in remote or hybrid physiology teaching.