Idea – concept – implementation. Experience IT project work live
11th and 12th grade pupils worked in a total of seven groups of two or three on a realistic task from the IT service sector. It did not stop at theory and concept work: using Arduino kits, they implemented their ideas directly and developed initial functional approaches, which they then presented to the entire audience.
From our perspective, it is precisely this combination of thinking, planning, and direct implementation that makes the workshop so valuable. The pupils experience that solutions in IT are rarely created at the push of a button. Instead, they require a high degree of communication. They are developed step by step together, ideally through the interaction of different perspectives within the team.
“For us, the Hackerschool is an important part of our collaboration with schools: we want to guide young people at an early stage, reduce their trepidation, and show them how varied and hands-on IT professions are. The aim of the Hackerschool is therefore to give pupils a realistic insight into the world of work through active participation, hands-on experimentation, and developing their own solutions.”
Maike Thöle, Recruiting Specialist
Briefly explained: What is Arduino?
Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that enables technical ideas to be quickly prototyped. At its core is a small programmable circuit board (microcontroller) that is controlled via a computer. It is enhanced by components such as LEDs, cables, or sensors.
As part of our Busy Light project, for example, the students used the circuit boards to make various status indicators visible via LEDs – such as “on schedule,” “focused,” or “available.” This allowed them not only to plan their concepts, but also to test and further develop them directly in practice.
Arduino in action. Developing prototypes for a Busy Light
The task followed a typical scenario from everyday working life, as experienced by our trainee IT specialists in application development: we have a problem and provide tools for developing a solution.
This year’s Hackerschool focused on headsets without a so-called busy light. A busy light is a small lamp: when it’s lit, it signals that someone is in a meeting or is concentrating on work. When it’s not lit, the person is presumably available.
Teamwork instead of school lessons: Working like in real IT projects
For many students, this way of working was unfamiliar. Unlike everyday school life, no task had to be completed within a single lesson and then handed in. Instead, they were able to spend more time working on the problem, reuse materials, discard ideas, rethink them, and develop their solution step by step, including practical implementation with the Arduino kit.
“This open way of working is exactly what is typical of our everyday professional life. IT doesn’t just mean technology, but above all communication, as well as perseverance, creativity, and joint problem-solving.”
Helena Deiters, trainee IT specialist in application development
After concentrated work, seven very different solution approaches and display models for the busy light were created, which the students presented to the audience after a pizza break. A small jury of Arineo employees ultimately selected the best solution. The winning group was delighted to receive a small gift.
Learning as equals. Arineo trainees run the Hackerschool
The Hackerschool was initiated by Sophie Lau, who started the project during her training at Arineo. Today, she works as a developer for our e-commerce solutions. She organized the workshop with several second-year IT apprentices, specializing in application development.
“For us, working with schools means giving young people an early insight into everyday working life: into real tasks and real working methods. And honestly: every year, we enjoy seeing how curiously and creatively the students approach the tasks and solve them.”
Sophie Lau, Developer/SAP Consultant
The fact that trainees and young employees organize and support the workshop is a deliberate choice. They authentically describe their path into IT, the topics covered in their training, and how they got started in their careers.
Insights
Interested in an apprenticeship at Arineo?
Would you like to experience IT not only in a workshop, but also become part of our team yourself? Find out here about our apprenticeship positions in IT specialist application development.
