The Future of Education

In times of increasing scientific and technological challenges, fostering scientific education is essential for a scientifically literate society. Nevertheless, numerous studies reveal that interest in STEM subjects declines significantly among schoolchildren in early adolescence. [1]

Non-formal learning environments play a crucial role in science education by providing pupils with practical and motivating learning experiences. [2] Within this work, interaction kits were developed that were specially designed for the afternoon science program in school laboratories - addressing topics with motivating phenomena like magnetism, electricity and optics as examples. These kits contain hands-on experiments that can be carried out with low prior knowledge.

The offer is specifically targeted at middle school students (grades 6 to 8) and is designed to stimulate situational interest through an exploratory and playful approach. Based on current findings on the development of interest, motivation theories and didactic principles, the interaction kits promote a low-threshold and autonomous exploration of physical and chemical phenomena.

They represent a flexible, adaptable concept for developing scientific curiosity and offer methodically prepared materials for effective STEM promotion.

In our contribution, we present the structure of such interaction boxes, the design of which is primarily based on the principles of self-determination theory as well as the four-phase model of interest development. [3-5] The design of the experiments is aimed at promoting inquiry based and collaborative learning.