Blog
Sharing our intimate insights on Education, Computational Thinking and Technology
Welcome to our blog, where we delve into the realms of education, coding, and technology. We aim to empower parents and students by providing valuable insights, tutorials, and resources. From unraveling the mysteries of coding to exploring its endless possibilities, we believe that coding is not just a skill but a mindset that nurtures problem-solving, creativity, and resilience. Join us on this exciting journey as we shape the next generation of digital pioneers, preparing them to thrive in the ever-evolving digital age.
International Coding Showcase 2021 Summed Up
Coding Lab’s annual International Coding Showcase (ICS) is a collaboration with Coding Lab Japan to showcase our brilliant (and brave!) students ages 7 to 18 and their very own projects – whether it’s Scratch, App Inventor or Python – and share them with the world. ICS 2021 saw Coding Lab students not only from Singapore and Japan, but also from other countries such as Germany, Indonesia and the United States!
With coding foundation and knowledge from our MIT-inspired coding classes, our students put in their blood, sweat and tears and used their ingenuity and creativity to create videos and projects that wowed the panel of judges. Today, we bring to you an exclusive blog feature of some of our top Distinction winners from ICS 2021. They clinched the top award and were featured on our Coding Lab YouTube channel – which reached thousands of viewers all over the world.
Learn all about their coding journey and watch their amazing project submissions!
#CodingLabParenting: Top 5 Educational STEM Games for Your Children
We know that you've got lots of things to do, so we've hunted down and made a list of 5 Educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Games for Children – so you don't have to search for them yourself! Now, screen time can be productive and educational, and the family can relax and wind down together after a long day.
Fun Techtivities in November!
School holidays are almost here! 😄 It’s always fun to start thinking about what we can do during our holidays. Why not combine some fun and tech-learning by participating in some techtivities?
Starting off with November’s #TechFact, did you know that the term “robot” was first popularised by science fiction in 1920? 🤖
When Czech playwright Karel Čapek had an idea for a play with artificial workers, his brother suggested calling them robots, derived from Czech words robotnik and robota, forced worker and forced labour respectively.
Now that we’ve learnt a new titbit, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Yin Xuan Tan
Today, we will get to know one of our most passionate and dedicated educators, Tan Yin Xuan!
With a love for working and teaching people, Yin Xuan’s foray into the tech industry to empower and educate her students definitely makes for an interesting story! Find out more about why she brings a unique perspective to her classroom!
#CodingLabParenting: Video Games as Stepping Stones to Success
Today, our Educator and Assistant Curriculum Team Lead, Hovan Tan, will be sharing with us his insights and personal experiences with video games. He'll also talk about understanding your child's games, what you should be wary of and how video games are stepping stones to success for your child. Let's hear from Teacher Hovan! 👇
Fun Techtivities in October!
Exams are coming up, or may soon be over for some of us. While working hard, it is important to take a break as well. Why not take a break to have fun and discover the amazing things technology has to offer through some techtivities? 😉
Let’s first learn something new. For October’s #TechFact, did you know that the first computer programmer was Ada Lovelace? In the 1840s, she pioneered her work on the Analytical Engine, which is often regarded as the world’s first computer – setting an example for women in tech ever since. 🤩
Now that we’re all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
#CodingLabStudents: Darius Yong, 13, School of Science and Technology
Education plays a significant role in the lives of children - both as a milestone and as a journey in itself. As Educators at heart ourselves, we understand the challenges that come with each unique learning experience. Therefore, when a student under our tutelage achieves an educational goal, it is our honour to share the celebratory news!
Hear From Our Founder: Experiencing a Best-in-Class Curriculum Part II
In the previous series, our Founder Mr Yong Ning Foo shared with us how our award-winning, MIT-inspired coding curriculum was thoughtfully created.
Today, in the second part of this Hear From Our Founder series, we sit down with Yong Ning and his two children and inspirations – Audrey and Mitchell, ages 9 and 7 respectively – who are students of Coding Lab themselves! Hear all about their experiences and get the answers to the most commonly asked questions about our curriculum.
#CodingLabParenting: 3 Keys to Unlock Your Child’s Successful Future
We all want our students to grow up to be successful – and as parents and educators ourselves, we understand this too. It's important to note that there is no one definition of success for everyone. But in a world that's increasingly becoming technology-driven, how can we help our children on their journey to their own definition of success?
Fun Techtivities in September!
Once again, school holidays are approaching this September, but no worries! We have you covered with techtivities that would spark your child’s interest in technology while they enjoy themselves! 😄
Let’s start off with September’s #TechFact. Did you know that an Non-Fungible Token (NFT) made by artist Pak smashed the record price for cryptographic art in 2021? 🖼️ At USD $91.8 million, the art piece “The Merge” became the highest-valued art piece sold by a living artist, and still remains so until today, as of August 2022!
Now that we have learnt a new titbit, let’s get down to business and discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
A Peek Into Our Course: Junior Coders Programme - Coding, Robotics, Montessori Learning and Tinkering with STEM
Giving their child the best of everything is what every parent wants. Starting off on a good note in their learning journey is extremely crucial for our young ones, especially for coding. The earlier you get a head start, the easier it is to grasp and understand the concepts!
With an award-winning curriculum inspired by MIT, our Junior Coders Programme (JCP) is specially designed for little ones aged 5 to 6 to be introduced to the wonderful world of coding! They will learn computational thinking skills, which are applicable to both coding and other areas like Mathematics!
Hear From Our Founder: Creating a Best-in-Class Curriculum Part I
Here at Coding Lab, we often talk about our MIT-inspired and award-winning coding curriculum for children and teenagers Ages 5-18. But have you ever wondered what it takes to craft and create such a best-in-class curriculum that would challenge and engage kids at the right level? How do we make decisions about the curriculum and what are some frequently asked questions?
As a full scholarship recipient from the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a former Regional Director in a US multinational company, with experience in a technology startup in Silicon Valley, Mr Yong Ning Foo shares with us why he chose to enter the education industry and the process of creating the award-winning Coding Lab curriculum.
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Rachel Chong
Rachel is our nurturing and patient educator. With her enduring passion for teaching and guiding young students along the path to coding literacy, our Educator Rachel is here to share about her teaching experience with Coding Lab.
Fun Techtivities in August!
With a new month comes new and exciting activities! There is no reason why we should not have some fun while learning new things. 😄
Starting off with August’s #TechFact, did you know that TikTok was crowned the most popular site on the Internet in 2021? Launched in 2016, it rapidly gained popularity, so much so that more netizens accessed the short-video platform than competitor giants like Google, Facebook and YouTube on most days last year!📱
A Peek Into Our Course: Advanced Computer Scientists (P21S) – Broad-Based Exposure to STEM Topics
Have you ever wondered what goes on in our Advanced Computer Scientists (ACS) classes? Every lesson is an exciting adventure with our passionate educators that will take our students to the next level of programming - all while having fun exploring - and experiencing a wide range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related topics!
#CodingLabStudents: Aarhan Saluja, 13, St Joseph's Institution
Meet Aarhan, our confident and articulate coder and Secondary One student currently studying in his dream school, St Joseph’s Institution (SJI), which he entered through Direct School Admission (DSA) with Coding. He was also previously awarded Merit Award in our International Coding Showcase 2020. Let’s hear what Aarhan has to say about his DSA experience and coding journey thus far!
Congratulations to our 7 (Platinum and Gold) winners at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge 2022!
We're proud to announce that 7 of our Coding Lab students have achieved 3 Platinum Awards (the highest honour) and 4 Gold Awards (the second highest honour)!
Fun Techtivities in July!
June holidays may be over, or your Summer holidays may have just begun, but we can all enjoy ourselves with some family time at these fun techtivities in July!
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Ryan Wong
Meet Ryan, our upbeat and passionate educator, who brings a wealth of experience to his classes from his time teaching overseas to his impressive work at the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). With a knack for breaking down complex coding concepts, he aspires to inculcate an exploratory and forward-thinking attitude in our students so that each child will be prepared for the digital world ahead!
Lianhe Zaobao Feature: Coding as a New Literacy in the Digital Age
We were featured in Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报, the largest Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper, on 22 May 2022! As Singapore advances towards becoming a Smart Nation, what does it mean for younger kids who are learning to code today?