From Building Blocks to Broad Prospects for the Future: Working Together to Promote STEM Education

The LEGO Education SPIKE Essential sets provide a simple and hands-on introduction to technology. Children learn the basics of programming and construction, develop creative solutions, and at the same time strengthen their language, math, and social skills. The focus is on creativity, logical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
“STEM education shouldn’t be a late-starter. The best way to spark enthusiasm for technology is to start early,” explains Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Constantin Wanninger from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. “Working with robotics also helps children overcome their fear of making mistakes: Every failed attempt is just a new update—then they can simply move on.” “STEM education must not be a late start. “The best way to spark enthusiasm for technology is to start early,” explains Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Constantin Wanninger of Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. “Working with robotics also helps children overcome their fear of making mistakes: Every failed attempt is just a new update—then they can simply keep going.”

The foundation for the project was laid at the Modular Festival in Augsburg, when Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Constantin Wanninger struck up a conversation with some parents there. This led to the question of how to spark a playful interest in STEM subjects among elementary school children, especially given the varying circumstances in their home lives. This led to the development of the initiative.
As early as November 2025, the Hochzoll Süd Elementary School in Augsburg received several LEGO Education SPIKE Essential sets, which have been used ever since in the newly founded STEM club. The sets support introductory programming and construction projects in the classroom and in extracurricular clubs and are used there regularly.
TUXEDO Computers supported the project from the very beginning. For the Augsburg-based company, digital education does not begin at the university level, but rather in the early school years. It is there that children develop their first ideas and experience how technology works and can be actively shaped. This fosters a lasting engagement with STEM topics that combines curiosity with hands-on learning.

The company’s own experiences with initiatives such as Girls’ Day also inform this perspective: The earlier children are exposed to technology, the more open-minded and comfortable they become with digital and technical topics. Later on in their academic and professional careers, however, external influences and stereotypical expectations often increase, which can limit this openness again. Early-stage projects like the one at St. Anna Elementary School address this very issue and provide a low-barrier entry point.

“We were enthusiastic about the idea and got involved right away. The younger children are, the easier it is to get them excited about technology. The older they get, the more often they’re shown their limits. Early support is a win for all participants.”
—Annika Litzel, TUXEDO Computers

Through their joint initiative, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA) and TUXEDO Computers are sending a clear message in support of early and gender-inclusive STEM education. The goal is to give children—regardless of their background or gender—a playful introduction to technology and, in the long term, to promote greater educational equity in STEM fields.

The fact that St. Anna Elementary School is part of Bavaria’s “Startchancen” program aligns well with the initiative launched by THA and TUXEDO Computers. This nationwide support program is specifically aimed at schools facing particular challenges and is designed to promote educational equity. It supports schools over a ten-year period in developing foundational skills in German and mathematics, as well as social-emotional development.

“With our donation of LEGO Education SPIKE Essential sets, we are contributing to greater educational equity.”
—Melina Buchschuster, THA

A total of 580 schools in Bavaria are participating. Over a period of ten years, they will receive support to promote basic skills in German and math, strengthen students’ social-emotional development, and advance school development. Schools are selected based on a social index that includes social and demographic criteria.
“By donating the LEGO Education SPIKE Essential sets, we are helping to promote greater educational equity,” says Melina Buchschuster, program coordinator for Systems Engineering. “In July, students from a middle school will visit us. We’ll showcase our work at THA and organize a 3D printing workshop. This way, we’ll demonstrate that math can be applied to real-world situations.”

Text: Annika Litzel, TUXEDO Computers
Photo: Celina Stelzner