The Shape Factory vs Schedule Builder

Shape Factory is an educational learning environment for primary school children (ages 7–10) that promotes algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning through an engaging factory simulation. Designed by Prof. Dr. Günter Krauthausen and Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christian Urff, the app combines educational expertise with child-friendly design. In a virtual factory, children configure machines that transform colored geometric workpieces step by step: drawing lines, punching holes, and rotating shapes. Through visual representation and immediate feedback, children directly experience how their decisions affect the outcome. FIVE GAME MODES FOR DIVERSE LEARNING • Experiment – Freely explore machines and their effects through discovery learning • Predict – Mentally predict the result of a production line, then verify • Make – Design production lines to create ordered workpieces and find different solutions • Optimize – Identify redundant machines and achieve the same result more efficiently • Repair – Analyze, diagnose, and fix faulty production lines EDUCATIONAL FEATURES • Four difficulty levels per mode with optional expert mode • Adaptive difficulty that automatically adjusts to the learner's level • Warehouse for saving, comparing, and sorting production lines • QR code exchange for sharing configurations between devices • Add notes to saved configurations • PDF export and photo saving of production lines COMPREHENSIVE TEACHER SETTINGS • Show or hide individual game modes to match the classroom situation • Control difficulty levels and adaptive adjustment • Individually configure counters, warehouse, and QR code features • Enable or disable automatic task progression • Built-in information about task formats and classroom use LEARNING GOALS The app fosters algorithmic thinking, spatial reasoning (mental rotation, orientation, symmetry), problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, optimization thinking, and systematic approaches. It is ideal for mathematics, science, and computer science education. TEACHING GUIDE A comprehensive didactic guide with lesson scenarios, research questions, differentiation tips, and methodological recommendations is available free of charge at www.urff.app/formen-fabrik. PRIVACY & SAFETY • No ads • No tracking • No in-app purchases • No internet connection required • No registration needed • All data stays on the device Shape Factory – built for children, designed for the classroom.

Create custom school bell schedules in minutes, not hours. Tired of wrestling with spreadsheet formulas every time there is an assembly, minimum day, or special event? This app, built by a school administrator, was tired of spending 20-30 minutes manually calculating bell schedule changes. Sit down with school staff, ASB directors and administrators to create a new bell schedule in minutes. What it does: * Input your day's parameters (start times, event durations, breaks) * Drag and drop time blocks to customize your schedule * Previews and Exports finished bell schedules as spreadsheets or .pdfs ready to share with staff Perfect for: * Daily Bell Schedules * Modified schedules (assemblies, testing days, conferences) * Multiple lunch periods * Minimum days and early releases * Schools with complex scheduling needs No formulas. No coding. Just flexible scheduling that adapts to your school's unique needs. Dedicated to educators who value face time over screen time.