What happens when coding meets creativity and hands-on learning? On 26 October 2026, the TUM Center for Educational Technologies hosted a workshop led by Jadga Hügle (SAP) and organized by Prof. Dr. Tilman Michaeli (TUM), exploring how programming can be used to design and create physical artifacts. Using the visual programming environment TurtleStitch, the workshop connected computational thinking with creative design and embroidery, offering a hands-on approach to computer science education.
Turning Code into Creative Designs
At the heart of the workshop was TurtleStitch, a visual programming environment that allows users to create algorithmic designs and bring them to life using an embroidery machine. Teachers and students were invited to experiment with coding, develop their own patterns, and explore how digital instructions can be used to embellish and customize physical objects.
By combining playful experimentation, creative problem-solving, and learning by making, the workshop illustrated how programming can extend beyond the screen. This approach offers opportunities to make computational concepts more tangible, accessible, and engaging in educational settings.
Connecting Computing Education and Making
The workshop was led by Jadga Hügle, who works with SAP’s outreach initiative and the Snap! team, developing learning materials and training for block-based programming and STEAM education. Originally trained as a biologist, she developed an interest in computer science through hands-on projects and has since been actively involved in the maker community. Her work combines technology, creativity, and practical learning experiences.
The workshop was organized in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Tilman Michaeli and his research group at TUM. As Professor of Computing Education at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, his research focuses on helping learners understand the digital world and actively shape it. His work combines empirical and design-oriented research with a strong emphasis on teaching practice, exploring ways to make computer science education more accessible and engaging.
Making Computer Science More Accessible
The workshop demonstrated the educational potential of combining creative coding, computational thinking, and physical making. By connecting algorithmic designs with embroidery, TurtleStitch offers a way to experience programming as a process that directly influences the design and creation of physical artifacts.
The central idea: Programming does not have to remain confined to digital environments. It can also be used to shape, decorate, and personalize physical objects. Making the results of code tangible offers learners an additional way to explore computational concepts and discover how programming connects to the physical world.
Missed the talk? Stay tuned for more EdTech event!
