METHODOLOGY FOR PLANNING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN INFORMATICS

Abstract

This article develops a practical methodology for planning extracurricular activities in informatics for secondary and higher pedagogical education contexts. The study argues that extracurricular informatics activities are most effective when they are planned as a competency-based, project-oriented, inclusive, and evidence-informed system rather than as occasional competitions or informal computer practice. The proposed methodology includes six stages: needs assessment, formulation of learning outcomes, selection of content and activity formats, implementation, assessment of learning evidence, and reflective improvement. The article presents planning tables, diagnostic tools, diagrams, and monitoring indicators that teachers can adapt for programming clubs, digital literacy circles, robotics laboratories, AI literacy sessions, cyber-safety workshops, and informatics Olympiad preparation. The novelty of the article lies in combining formal curriculum goals with learner motivation, digital citizenship, computational thinking, teamwork, and local school resources. The results show that systematic planning increases student engagement, supports differentiated instruction, and makes extracurricular informatics activities measurable and sustainable.