Hocus Pocus
In 2025, we had the privilege of working with educators from Alexandra Primary School to develop a workshop series that blends generative AI with creative computing and hands-on making. In this workshop, parent-child duos explored and made interactive dioramas that imagine superpowers that they would like to have.
This workshop engaged participants in both digital and physical making. Workshop activities centered on the Hocus Pocus software, a custom tool we built that wraps creative coding into a worksheet-style interface. Participants iteratively developed digital effects with the help of a custom AI coding agent. Extending earlier research in the lab (see PaperTouch), they also used recycled household scraps and craft materials to create a “magic wand” that interacts with the effects on screen.
The learnings and outcomes of the workshop series were subsequently shared with Singaporean educators at the Design Education Summit 2025. We presented our perspective of generative AI as another material, alongside all other materials, for learning through making; pushing learners to go beyond passive consumption to active, empowered making with technology.
These workshops were co-organized with the incredible help of Alexandra Primary School, in particular, the school leadership and TinkerLab team led by Mr Melvin Chin, Subject Head of Innovation and Project Work.
Clement Zheng
Celeste Seah
Han Bo
Ye Qian
Cai Tianxiang
Workshop program
Brainstorming. Ideating how to tell stories of superpowers.
Demonstration. Showing the possibilities of the tool to inspire creativity.
Physically making the wand. Defamiliarizing screen-based interactions through making.
Digitally making the effect. Decomposing the idea into smaller steps and iteratively refining the effect.
What is AI? Revealing that Hocus Pocus is powered by AI, not magic. Reflecting on its implications and ethics.
Guided but flexible tab navigation
Child-friendly code
Spellbook of effects
Owning the Magic: Empowering Students in Physical-Digital Making with Generative and Reflective AI workshop at Design Education Summit 2025.
Participants’ effects
“Crystal Glowing Ball”
“Calming Rabbit Garden”
“Magical Stars”
“Geminio Duplicate”
“Enderman Teleports”
“Teleport in the Rain”
“Super Dodger Man”
“Rainbow tunnel”
“Robot Cartwheels”
“Colorful Birds”
“Spinning Robots”
“Mind Reading Chess”
“Diamond Clock”
“Gungun”
“Favorite Food”
“Theme Park Rollercoaster”