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.
Fun Techtivities in March!
With the school holidays soon upon us, we are all excited to have an enjoyable break with our families. Why not explore the endless possibilities that technology has to offer while having fun through our #Techtivities? š
Letās kick it off with this monthās #TechFact! Did you know that Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, would send his first ever tweet on the social media platform in 2006? Now, Twitter is the 9th most viewed website globally!
Now that weāre learnt a new titbit, click in to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ
Why we teach Minecraft (and not Roblox)
Games have been at the forefront of entertainment for all ages and have never been more accessible.
The two most popular games on our kidsā minds are Minecraft and Roblox. By the age of 7, many of our Students will have heard about these games through their friends or YouTube channels. As a result, many parents have approached Coding Lab, inquiring about the presence of either a Minecraft or Roblox curriculum where the students can be guided into their foray into online games and at the same time, learn programming.
We sat down with our Educator and Assistant Curriculum Team Lead, Hovan Tan, to ask him his thoughts on what platforms are suitable for our children, and how we came to the decision to develop and launch our special Minecraft Code Your World curriculum, instead of other platforms. Letās hear from Teacher Hovan! š
Congratulations to Woodgrove Primary for placing top 3 in the National Thinkers Challenge!
This year, we had the opportunity to coach Woodgrove Primary, who won the Most Feasible and Sustainable Award in the National Thinkers Challenge 2022 by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan!
Out of 52 teams, the team placed in the top 3 and clinched 1 out of the 5 awards presented. This competition aims to let students think of innovative tech solutions and this yearās theme was food wastage, and the students created a prototype mobile app incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Fun Techtivities in February!
Hop into the Year of the Rabbit with our compiled list of #techtivities, where you can enjoy time with your family, have fun and see the wonders that technology can bring! š
Starting with Februaryās #TechFact, did you know that the chess A.I programme āDeep Blueā defeated world champion Garry Kasparov in a game in 1996? That marked the first time a chess computer had beaten a world champion!
Now that weāre all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ
#ParentsWhoWork: Want to increase your productivity? Check out these 8 browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox!
Trying to get your work done efficiently but find yourself distracted? Weāve all been there, our attention diverted by social media and other websites instead of focusing on our task at hand. But donāt worry, we have compiled a list of the 8 best browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox that are designed to help you focus and boost your productivity! š
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Stephanie Swee
One of our most beloved educators, Stephanie Swee charms her class with her unique personality and background in Cyber Security!
A board game aficionado with past work experience in the IT industry, she aspires to bring the same level of enthusiasm to her classroom and pass on her passion for coding to her students. Travel with us through her journey into becoming a Coding Lab Educator! š
Fun Techtivities in January!
The end of holidays does not mean the end of having fun. Combine fun and learning about technology through our techtivities, where we can enjoy a day out with our family and get to see amazing technology in action!
Starting off with a #TechFact for 2023, did you know that Wikipedia was launched 22 years ago on the 15th of January, becoming the ālargest and most-read reference work in historyā? As of 2022, they are still in the top 5 most popular websites in the world, and they have information available in 329 languages with contributions from users all over the world! (Source)
What's your digital footprint? Take care of it!
Social media has become an intimate way for many of us to connect with relatives and old friends when we share pictures of our families and celebrations for the various events in our lives. However, that also means everyone else is watching.
It is estimated that by 2030 āparentsā over-sharing of personal information about their kids on social media could cost almost Ā£670m in online fraudā. How can this happen? We must first understand our ādigital footprintā.
#CodingLabStudents: Wang Jun Min, 13, NUS High School of Math and Science
Meet Jun Min, our avid coder and Secondary One student currently studying in his dream school, NUS High School of Math and Science, which he entered through Direct School Admission (DSA). As one of Coding Lab's earlier students (he started when he was barely 7 years old), we catch up with him since his previous blog feature.
Fun Techtivities in December!
School holidays are in full swing, and we are all no doubt thinking about how to best enjoy our time before the next year begins. This is where techtivities come in ā activities where you can learn more about the immense possibilities of technology, while having fun at the same time!
For Decemberās #TechFact, did you know that 40 years ago, the computer was named the āMan of the Yearā by TIME Magazine? This is the first time the editors of the magazine selected a non-human recipient for the award. It speaks of the large impact computers had in the world 40 years ago, and clearly still persisting till today!
Now that weāre all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ
International Coding Showcase 2021 Summed Up
Coding Labās 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 ā whether itās Scratch, App Inventor or Python ā 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 ā 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 ā 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! š Itās 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 Novemberās #TechFact, did you know that the term ārobotā was first popularised by science fiction in 1920? š¤
When Czech playwright Karel Äapek 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 weāve learnt a new titbit, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ
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 Xuanās 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! š
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? š
Letās first learn something new. For Octoberās #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 worldās first computer ā setting an example for women in tech ever since. š¤©
Now that weāre all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ
#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 ā Audrey and Mitchell, ages 9 and 7 respectively ā 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 Childās Successful Future
We all want our students to grow up to be successful ā 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 childās interest in technology while they enjoy themselves! š
Letās start off with Septemberās #TechFact. Did you know that an Non-Fungible Token (NFT) made by artist Pak smashed the record price for cryptographic art in 2021? š¼ļø At USD $91.8 million, the art piece āThe Mergeā 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, letās get down to business and discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! āØ