Abstract:

In Slovakia, we have recently registered an acute need to increase the science literacy of young people and the popularization of science in general. To contribute to solving this issue we have created the Center of Non-formal Physics education and popularization of physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica. The Center includes a laboratory for experimental student activities and workshops for teachers and a set of exposed interactive experiments in the corridor spaces. The content of the prepared experimental activities is based on educational physics standards for lower and upper secondary levels and supplemented by topics not commonly taught at schools. The experiments use commonly available aids, including daily items, a set of original interactive exhibits, and modern digital technologies. Each of the experimental sets and exhibits supports individual student activity and active physics learning. The paper introduces several developed experimental activities offered to primary and secondary school students at the Center. Feedback obtained through questionnaires filled out by visiting students is presented and an analysis of student worksheets is discussed.

Keywords:

Physics education, experiment, non-formal education, popularization of science.