Keyword: «project-based and research activities»

The digital transformation of the education system has led to the need for students to acquire 21st-century skills through innovative pedagogical approaches, among which STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education occupies a special place. However, the comparative effectiveness of traditional and extracurricular STEM projects in developing key skills among schoolchildren is still not well justified. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of these two approaches in fostering core competences among secondary school students. This article aims to compare the impact of regular and extra-curricular STEM project-based learning on the development of essential skills among eighth-grade students. The experiment was conducted on a group of 65 students, divided into three groups: two experimental groups and one control group. The first experimental group learned STEM technologies in regular geography lessons, while the second group participated in extracurricular design and research activities. The control group was taught using traditional methods. The competence development was assessed using the method worked out by A.V. Pashkevich and based on the classification of key competences proposed by A.V. Khutorskoy. Statistical data processing was done using the Mann-Whitney U-test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed that the STEM approach was significantly better than traditional teaching methods. In the first experimental group, the integrated competence index increased from 0.42 to 0.51. In the second group, it went from 0.44 to 0.67. This indicates a transition to an advanced level. The control group showed the lowest results. In the extracurricular experimental group, innovative practice-oriented STEM projects were implemented («PharmaHops», «Radiance», a multimodal transport hub design, and others), several of which received recognition at regional and federal competitions. It has been shown that the extracurricular implementation of STEM projects leads to a more pronounced development of key skills compared to regular classes due to the greater freedom in selecting content and methods, as well as the absence of strict time limits and opportunities for interdisciplinary interaction. The theoretical importance of this study lies in the development of a competence-based approach and the clarification of scientific ideas regarding the effectiveness of different forms of STEM education. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of evidence-based recommendations for optimizing the educational process. These recommendations focus on the prioritization of extracurricular STEM activities, the establishment of a suitable material and technical framework, and the professional development of teachers in the field of interdisciplinary instruction.