an immersion in creative computing for K12 teachers, parents, and technology integrators


July 20 - 23, 2026
New York City



The Logo Summer Institute is an annual event that has been held since 1980 in locations across the USA and abroad. It offers a constructionist, project-based approach that supports creative computing and STEAM learning and teaching. You will work with a variety of hardware, software, and materials as you build projects of personal and professional significance. You will engage in a process that is similar to what your students will experience as you bring newly acquired skills and knowledge back to the classroom.




Themes, projects, and activities

In the Logo Summer Institute, you will have uninterrupted time to develop one or more projects of personal and/or professional interest. If you have a clear idea of what you want to work on, you will find support from the facilitators and colleagues to help you pursue your goals. If you are open to suggestions, here are some of the themes, projects, and activities that we expect to focus on in 2026.

Bringing Stories to Life

Many projects created in the Logo Summer Institutes are animated stories. These can be made highly interactive with sensors responding to light, touch, sound, and motion to control the action on the screen. The behavior of a robot may also be incorporated into a project. With machine learning, facial recognition or gestures can be used to change the course of a game or story. You could create a physical story book that includes sensors that control a response in the book itself, e.g. turning lights on and off or turning a page.

Stories can be original fiction, reporting, biographies, travelogues, history, or the retelling of a favorite book or fairy tale.
A physical book with touch sensors linked by a
Makey Makey to an animation programmed in Scratch.

Games

Arcade-style games programmed in Scratch are a popular project area for students. Action can be controlled with keyboard and mouse, or with external devices built around Makey Makey or a micro:bit. OctoStudio is a newer platform that is good for game creation with additional possibilities for using sensors such as tilting and shaking that are built into a phone or tablet.

Adventure game projects combine aspects of both gaming and storytelling.

Games made with Scratch
 In this animated game, the motion of the
robot dog is coordinated with what
happens on the screen

Robotics and Physical Computing

Robotics projects include kinetic sculpture, robots that can follow a line or navigate a maze, animatronics, Rube Goldberg machines and more. We use a variety of kits. The Hummingbird Robotics Kit is well suited for devices built from readily available craft materials. LEGO and Vex kits include the pieces you need to build a variety of robots. The Finch Robot is fully built and ready to go so you can focus on programming.
The Finch Robot Bunny built with the
Hummingbird Robotics Kit


A LEGO turtle and a
vintage 1970s robot turtle		 A self-driving vehicle that uses machine learning
to recognize objects and signs

We also use microcontrollers including the micro:bit and Circuit Playground Express, which encourage tinkering with electronics as you design, build, and program.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

What effect will AI have on how computer programming is done, and on education? We’ll look at how Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT can assist or replace programmers. Here are some projects using LLMs that we’ll explore:
  • Programming Finch and Hummingbird robots with behaviors that depend on the objects or images that are seen
  • Using Learning ML, a modified version of Scratch, to create interactive animations and games that take different actions based on visual inputs
  • Build and create self-driving vehicles that can respond to traffic signs

The Finch is programmed so that its behavior
depends on which hand puppet is seen.

For Little Kids

Programming and robotics are accessible for children in grades PreK-2 with appropriate software and hardware. ScratchJr is a version of Scratch designed for young children. The Finch Robot may be programmed by children in this age group using FinchBlox. Spike Essential is a LEGO kit suitable for children six years old and up.

Turtle Geometry

Turtle Talk was incorporated into early versions of Logo to control robot and screen turtles. Turtle Geometry has become commonplace throughout the world of educational computing as a Microworld for exploring geometry and for drawing and robotics projects. It has come into its own as a rich environment for artistic expression using TurtleArt and ArtLogo. Turtle geometry designs may become physical objects using laser cutting and etching, and 3D printing.

Wearable Computing

Using a lilypad, micro:bit, or Circuit Playground Express, conductive thread, and miniature LEDs and sensors, you can create all sorts of flashy clothing, hats, and other wearables.

With TurtleStitch and an embroidery machine, Turtle Geometry designs can be stitched into fabric.



Robo-Expo

Robo-Expo was initiated in 2005 by participants in the Logo Summer Institute. Intended to be a Soft Approach to Robotics Teaching and Learning, it has been held each spring in New York City, and has been replicated in other locations. The activities of Robo-Expo are a good basis for a robotics program, whether you plan to attend, host your own event, or confine your activities to your own classroom or club. The team of Logo Summer Institute facilitators has long experience with Robo-Expo and includes some of the founders of the event. More information is available on the Robo-Expo website.
A line-following challenge at Robe-Expo

Workshop Leaders

The Logo Summer Institute facilitators are classroom teachers, professional development specialists and researchers  with extensive experience in creative computing and curriculum integration in grades K-12 and in all subject areas. Since the members of the team each have their own interests and areas of expertise, you will have support and guidance in a wide variety of project areas and technologies. Everyone on the team is fluent in Scratch and several other programming languages.

Your hosts and facilitators for the 2026 Logo Summer Institute are

Additional facilitators will join us in person or via Zoom to lead sessions and discussions in their areas of expertise.

Technologies

We emphasize software and hardware that is accessible,  broadly useful, and well-supported. 

The basics:

Scratch - a widely used programming environment and online community suitable for students ages 8 and up.
Scratch Jr is a simplified version of Scratch for children ages 5 to 7
Snap! is an advanced version of Scratch with more programming features; suitable for high school and college level computer science courses.
TurtleArt and ArtLogo- The art of programming and the programming of art.
Makey Makey - a sensor board that allows you to have real-world inputs to your programs by connecting with everyday objects.
Hummingbird - a general purpose robotics platform suitable for a wide range of projects and usable with many programming languages.
Finch - a programmable robot suitable for PreK through college students
micro:bit - a low-cost microcontroller for physical computing projects. It is the heart of the Finch and Hummingbird.

Additional systems we use:

MakeCode and MicroBlocks are programming languages for micro:bit and Circuit Playground Express
VEX, LEGO Spike Prime and LEGO Spike Essentials are self-contained robotics packages
Arduino and Circuit Playground Express  are microcontrollers with capabilities similar to the micro:bit
Bee-Bot is a programmable robot suitable for young children
LilyPad is a small microcontroller for sewable electronics 
CoDrone EDU is a programmable drone designed for classroom learning.
TurtleStitch is a programming environment that generates turtle geometry patterns for embroidery machines.
VexCodeVR and CoderZ are virtual robotics platforms  for controlling robots that live on your computer screen
GOFL (Good Old-Fashion Logo) including Lynx, Terrapin Logo, FMS Logo, UCB Logo, and others.
LearningML enables you to incorporate machine learning models into Scratch
OctoStudio is a new app for mobile phone from the creators of Scratch at the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.











Resources

For the past several years we have maintained the Logo Summer Institute Resources website. It includes software and hardware guides and tutorials, background readings, software downloads, curriculum ideas, and photos and videos from past Logo Summer Institutes. The site was created for participants in the Logo Summer Institutes, remains active after the workshop, and is public and open to all.

Who should attend?

Most people who attend the Logo Summer Institutes are elementary, middle school, and high school teachers, school or district technology coordinators, and technology integrators, but we have had people from all walks of life: scientists, engineers, graphic artists, college professors, computer programmers, and parents who are home schooling their children. We have also had young people attend along with a parent or teacher.

Venue

The 2026 Logo Summer Institute will be hosted by the Hewitt School in New York City

Schedule

The 2026 Logo Summer Institute will be from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday, July 20 through Thursday July 23

What does it cost?

- Regular registration: $895 per person
- Returnee registration for people who have previously attended a Logo Summer Institute: $795 per person
- Group discounts are available for two or more people from the same school, district, or other organization. Email us at info@logofoudnation.org with the number of people who will be registering and we'll get back to you with the cost and the group registration procedure.

What do I get?

- Access to a wide range of programming environments, and equipment and materials for physical computing and robotics.
- Access to online resources and support during the workshop and beyond
- A 30-day free loan of a Finch Robot and/or a Hummingbird Robotics Kit for follow-up after the Logo Summer Institute,
- Free registration for follow-up workshops during the 2026- 2027 school year.

What if I need more information?

For more information contact us by email: info@logofoundation.org
Click here to join our mailing list and receive the latest updates on the Logo Summer Institute.

Ra
 hummingbird
 arduino

Here's what some participants in previous Logo Summer Institutes had to say:*


This is the most personalized workshop I've ever been to. I love that the instructors were willing to go down any rabbit hole suggested by a participant.

This was the most productive professional development workshop I've attended. Valuable personal learning experience of skills that directly relates to classroom experience. Very excited to try these out next school year.

I thought it was a terrific workshop! I really learned a lot about how to use the technology. The facilitators were also great! They always were around to see how your project was going and offer great feedback on it, which was incredibly helpful :)

The level of individual attention I received was remarkable, considering the number of people in the class who were all working on complicated matters. I truly appreciated the patience, intense focus and time given by all the facilitators. Each facilitator was approachable and genuinely concerned that I learned the material.

All four instructors are AMAZING: patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, kind - all the aspects of a good teacher!! Thank you for this opportunity. I hope to be able to join next summer!!

I loved interacting with teachers from different grade levels. You get out of your vacuum and learn things you wouldn't think possible because of different perspectives.

It was delightful to have time to be immersed in a project. I also enjoyed working with such a creative group of people. Lots of fun!

Wonderful! I will be using what I learned! I feel very invigorated!

I liked the blend of focused mini-lessons with independent explorations.

I came with zero knowledge and going home with a truckload of new ideas. I am so excited to share these with my colleagues and students.

The differentiation of the technologies was brilliantly orchestrated when you consider the wide spread of experience levels.

All the facilitators that I worked with were amazing! A pleasure to work with and super helpful!

This was by far the best workshop I've ever been to.

I hope that I am not being hyperbolic in saying that I think this week has changed my life and will then indirectly change many other lives.

Awesome Workshop!!!


*comments taken from the evaluations that participants were asked to complete at the end of the Institute.