Project days for schools

CAD - from your own drawing to the model

Duration: 4 h, from grade 5

CAD is the abbreviation for computer-aided design. The students gain their first experience with this and implement their own creative design in a model made of Styrofoam. To do this, they use a drawing program on the computer to design their own lettering or a silhouette. The design is sent to a Styrofoam cutting machine, which automatically cuts exactly the model designed by the students from a piece of Styrofoam. The Styrofoam models may be taken home. This program is suitable for a group size of up to 15 students.

Microcontroller course

Duration 4h, from class 5

Microcontrollers are small computers that can be programmed. Nowadays they are found in almost all technical devices. Therefore, students come into contact with them every day without realizing it (for example, through their cell phones, microwave ovens or toys). In this course, students get their first insights into the world of electrical engineering. They learn how to build electronic circuits and take their first steps in programming Arduino microcontrollers. Construction is done on small breadboards with electrical components that could also be used in traditional industrial circuits. This program is suitable for a group size of up to 14 students.

Recognizing Socio-Emotional Manipulation

Duration: max. 5 hours, starting in 8th grade

This workshop is designed for students ages 14 and older and provides a practical understanding of how disinformation works on social media. The focus is not on distinguishing between “true” and “false” information, but rather on how posts—through their emotional language, images, and so on— create a sense of credibility and pressure to act.

During the workshop, students analyze a sample social media post, compare different representations of the same information, and reflect on the impact of eight key emotional response patterns on their perception of the information. Particular emphasis is placed on social validation cues, such as the number of likes and supportive comments.

Participants will also complete a short questionnaire during the workshop. This is not intended for performance evaluation but rather to provide deeper insight into the methods of qualitative social research.

The goal of the workshop is to promote media literacy, reflective thinking, and an understanding of social media platforms. At the end, students will receive a simple screening tool to help them better recognize various manipulation strategies. The workshop is suitable for up to 24 students and can be adapted in a modular fashion to the respective skill level.