Learning the Basics of Programming in the DiSTT Workshops

Date: 03.06.2026
By: DiSTT
As part of the DiSTT workshops at Happylab Vienna, apprentices were introduced to the fundamentals of programming and computational thinking through hands-on activities with the Calliope Mini microcontroller.

Participants learned how simple code can be used to control digital devices, sensors, lights, and movement. Through step-by-step exercises, they explored basic programming logic and gained an understanding of how software interacts with physical hardware.

Programming was closely connected to the robot-building activities during the workshop. Apprentices created simple commands to control and test the robots they had assembled, allowing them to immediately see the results of their code in action. This practical approach made abstract concepts easier to understand and encouraged experimentation.

For many participants, it was their first experience with programming. By working in teams and testing ideas together, apprentices developed problem-solving skills and confidence in dealing with digital technologies.

The workshop showed how programming can be taught in an accessible and playful way, helping young learners better understand technologies that increasingly shape everyday life and modern workplaces.