Biological Olympiads in the Teaching of Natural Science and Biology in Primary and Secondary Schools

The main goal of this thesis is to analyze the significance and use of the Biology Olympiad in teaching natural sciences and biology at primary and secondary schools, and to assess its impact on the educational process and the development of students' scientific literacy. The thesis focuses on the practical school experience with the Biology Olympiad from the perspectives of both teachers and students. It explores how this competitive format influences motivation, knowledge, and overall interest in science subjects. In the research section, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among teachers and students who actively participate in the Biology Olympiad or have participated in the past. The research aimed to achieve six specific objectives: mapping the involvement of schools in the Biology Olympiad in the Mladá Boleslav region, identifying methods for preparing students, determining students' motivations for participation, exploring the relationship between success in the Olympiad and academic performance, examining the use of competition materials in regular teaching, and evaluating the contribution to the development of scientific literacy. The results indicate that the Biology Olympiad fosters students' active interest in biology, provides teachers with valuable materials and...