Launch of the COMPI.LE Research Project

I am delighted that, with the generous support of the Daimler and Benz Foundation, we are able to launch our research project COMPI.LE.

At the heart of the project lies the scientific investigation of how children in the first four years of primary school can be playfully introduced to the principles of computational thinking. We are particularly interested in the learning processes that emerge when building and constructing with LEGO® SPIKE™ Essential is combined with an age-appropriate programming environment – and how this influences competencies such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity.

Our aim is to address existing research gaps in the field of computational thinking in primary education and to generate empirically grounded insights into which instructional approaches are genuinely sustainable. In doing so, we hope to contribute to the academic discourse on the role of computational thinking in schools and society.

I am especially pleased that the funding provided by the Daimler and Benz Foundation also enabled us to establish a doctoral position within the project. This allows us to combine research on a highly topical issue with the promotion of early-career scholars – a combination that is of great personal importance to me.