Computational Empowerment Lab

A "Computational Empowerment Lab" is being set up as part of the Digital Education and Learning Group. Computational empowerment is understood as an extension of the concept of computational thinking in the sense of empowerment to participate in a self-determined way in digital society and not only to understand technological development, but also to be able to actively shape it.

One building block for this are innovative digital technologies that are readily accessible and can also be realistically acquired by schools. These include, for example, 3D printers, cutting plotters, digital games, augmented and virtual reality devices, simple robots, AI applications, sensors, electronic kits, digital musical instruments, and conductive textiles.

The Computational Empowerment Lab's intention is to engage in research now with technologies that may realistically be available in schools in a few years, as well as to expose students to these technologies now in their teaching. The Lab provides an infrastructure for research in which prototypes of digital educational technologies can be designed and evaluated flexibly, directly and iteratively.