Abstract:

Knowledge is the basic resource in the global economy. All forms of learning that contribute to practical knowledge, skills and competence development are becoming significant in modern education. Extracurricular activities in higher education contribute significantly to a students' growth, development of skills needed for the 21st century and overall success in higher education, but they are rarely a subject of academic research. Activities that aim to bring science closer to a wide spectrum of people have the potential to raise people's scientific literacy and are very important for progress in modern society. Interactive science workshops have the potential to increase student engagement in science-related topics providing stimulating learning opportunities in which students' attitudes towards natural sciences can be positively influenced. They encourage curiosity and exploration, which can lead to the development of a lifelong interest in science. For this reason, the aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of an interactive biology workshop designed by undergraduate students of biology to promote biology as a science among high school students. The workshop was implemented in 4 high schools in Serbia in a total of 17 classes. The scenario of implemented activities is described in the paper. After the workshops, a short questionnaire was conducted. The sample of 327 high school students participated in the survey. The vast majority (94.8%) of students expressed the opinion that they like this type of activity, while 89% of students find such workshops useful for choosing future profession. The students involved in the implementation of this extracurricular activity had a positive experience and reported the development of competences like presentation skills, organizational skills and communication skills.

Keywords:

Extracurricular activities, science education, biology, high school students, competences.