Excursion for Year 7 pupils to the Computing Science lab at the University of Oldenburg

What do eye blinks, a 3D printer and a pocket spy have in common? All three played a central role in the Computing Science Learning Lab at the University of Oldenburg, where classes 7c and 7d spent an interesting and educational morning on Friday, 6 December 2019. They were given an insight into the content and methods of the subject of Computing Science. Two weeks earlier, classes 7a and 7b had already taken part in an identical event.

Part of the morning consisted of station-based learning, in which various basics of the subject of Computing Science were taught. The topics covered included encryption, information transfer, 3D printing, the mobile phone as a "spy in your pocket", the dangers of public Wi-Fi networks, mobile communications, artificial intelligence and the limits of computers, with the focus on exploring and trying things out for yourself.

The second workshop was an Internet game designed to familiarise the pupils with how the Internet works. In role-playing games, the seventh-graders took on the roles of client, server, provider and router and simulated the processes that take place when a website is opened.

The extracurricular learning centre offered numerous insights into the work of the subject Computing Science. The collaboration with students and lecturers from the University of Oldenburg was particularly exciting.

Many thanks to the learning lab at the University of Oldenburg for the instructive insights. We would also like to thank the Association of Parents and Friends of Brake Grammar School e.V. for the financial support during the realisation.

Picture and article credits: Mrs Küwen