The term skill can be translated from English as ability, aptitude or dexterity. Soft skills (= soft abilities?) are primarily understood as personal, social and emotional abilities and competences. In contrast to hard skills, which describe specialised knowledge and abilities that are necessary to carry out an academic appointment and can be certified, for example with certificates, soft skills encompass abilities that go beyond this specialised knowledge. These include, for example, personal skills (learning ability, charisma, motivation, perseverance, creativity, independence, self-criticism, resilience, ...), social skills (friendliness, teamwork, reliability, willingness to take responsibility, fairness, assertiveness, ...) and methodological skills (communication, rhetoric, time management, conflict management, ...). The relevance of soft skills for a (successful) academic and academic appointment is beyond question and is therefore recommended as a compulsory elective course for students in the introductory phase of computer science degree programmes.

As this course is primarily aimed at first-year students on Bachelor's degree programmes in (Business) Computing Science, it also teaches technical skills that are usually only taught in the higher semesters. In this way, a holistic picture of Computing Science is drawn early on and students are encouraged to test and apply the theoretical content from the first Computing Science lectures in a practical context as part of project work.

The lecture content is selected in such a way that it can be applied directly in the further course of study. Specifically, lectures are offered on the following content:

• Time and self-management
• communication
• Working in groups
• conflict management
• rhetoric
• Creative methods
• Project work
• Scientific writing and presentation
• Formulating feedback

Practical skills are also taught in exercises. These include

• Use of (measuring) tools
• soldering
• Reading simple circuit diagrams
• Use of active and passive electrical components
• Programming microcontrollers for automation
• 3D modelling and digital production using 3D printers and laser cutters
• Use of version management tools

There is no written exam at the end of the semester in this course.

The module grade is made up of partial performances that are collected in an e-portfolio throughout the year. The following achievements are taken into account in the final grade:

• Written submissions (exercises, learning diaries, project documentation)
• Lectures and presentations
• Digital artefacts

This year, the students worked in groups of four to produce and document a digital artefact on the topic of "Do-It-Yourself Smart Home" using single-board computers, microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, 3D printers and laser cutters. The aim of the project was to develop a prototype smart home solution. The results of the 11 project groups are linked here:

• Jukebox PI: The upcycling of an old music system.
• MED (Modular Entrance Devices): The front doorbell 2.0
• Smart letterbox: Receive parcels securely and be notified via app
• Air quality measurement in classrooms: the smart CO2 sensor
• UniClock: Square, practical, smart
• Smart alarm system: peace of mind through technology
• Smart motion detector: On the trail of bicycle thieves
• Smart alarm clock: Networked alarm clock in a chic retro design
• Project Omega: The meta smart home
• Smart smoke detector: Much more than just beeping
• ESP8266-based RFID scanner with room utilisation system: Don't give corona a chance

In addition, the participants voted for the best semester project at the end of the final presentations. This year's award went to the project group of Phillipp Christian Arnold, Lasse Ehmen, Tom Gelzer and Hannes Kuß with the project ESP8266 based RFID scanner with room utilisation system . Congratulations!

This year's overarching theme was "Smart Environments". The students worked in groups of five to develop projects in the context of smart homes, smart cities and smart manufacturing.

Smart drinks guard - no more cold tea

The smart sweets dispenser - the quantity makes the poison

Smart mailbox - a small module with a big effect

The smart parking assistant - upcylcing a car

Smartify - The smart coffee machine - Fresh coffee. Just like that.

The smart thermostat add-on - Upcycling old radiators without structural changes

Hydration Tracker - For the HydroHomies

Smart-Start - For a parallel universe without WoL

The smart potted plant - Founder thumbs through technology

LetterScan - Better than any postman

The smart rubbish bin - simply dispose of things smarter

Project Cloc - Pomodoro technology taken to the next level

SmartHomeLamp - Light switches are a thing of the past

Multipurpose measuring station - now with three "s"!

"SHAB" - smart home automatic flower pot

Smart weather station - Yet Another weather station

This year, the project Project Cloc (by Frauke Ahting, Kjell Hanken, Julian Kropp, Steffen Neumann, Manuel Wustlich) deserves special mention. Project Cloc is excellently worked out, produced and documented. Overall, at no point does this project give the impression that it was developed by five students in the introductory phase of their studies as part of a course, but in terms of its range of functions, operation and workmanship it looks like a mature, commercially available product. This deserves special recognition, especially considering the time frame of the course.