Dancing the Algorithm: How to Teach Children Computer Science
In the recent article “Tanzen im Algorithmus: Wie man Kindern Informatik beibringt” (“Dancing the Algorithm: How to Teach Children Computer Science”), Der Standard spotlights the pioneering work of Prof. Laura Kovacs and the eduLAB team at TU Wien in making computer science engaging and accessible for young learners — all without the use of computers.
The article features a visit to one of the hands-on, unplugged workshops held at TU Wien’s Faculty of Informatics. In these sessions, primary school children explore fundamental computer science concepts such as algorithms, logic, and problem-solving through interactive activities, movement, and games. These workshops are part of the Adventure Informatics initiative, led by Prof. Kovacs and developed by eduLAB.
“We want to show that you don’t need to code to understand computer science,” says Laura Kovacs in the article. “Even solving a Sudoku puzzle is informatics.” She emphasizes the importance of introducing digital literacy at the primary school level to nurture logical thinking and spark curiosity — especially among girls, who are still underrepresented in the field.
Supported by TU Wien, the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), and the Let’s Empower Austria initiative, the program reaches around 3,000 schoolchildren annually. Workshop topics range from basic algorithmic thinking to an unplugged introduction to artificial intelligence — all designed to be inclusive, intuitive, and fun.
With growing demand, Kovacs and her team are working to expand the initiative and create dedicated workshop spaces. As Der Standard notes, the impact is already visible: many children leave the workshops inspired — and excited to return to TU Wien one day as university students.
