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If there's one thing I learnt about coding, it is that it's never too early to get your kids to start. After seeing Ayd attending coding lessons at The Lab for close to six months, I can see that he really enjoys the projects and his face lights up with immense satisfaction and pride when he describes the coding systems that he had written.
But more on that later.
If you had read my previous post on The Lab, you will know that it is a coding school with coding programmes for kids aged 5 and above. In fact, they are the first Coding and Robotics school in Singapore that runs an adaptive learning management system to personalise each and every student based on their learning abilities and behaviours.
But are all coding schools created equally? Definitely not and the fact that The Lab does it differently in terms of cirriculum and learning environment makes it stand out among the rest. You can read more about how The Lab makes it different for kids compared to other coding schools in my first post HERE.
Essentially, it is a school that strongly advocates experiential and problem-based learning in a personalised and self-directed manner. Which Ayd thoroughly loves!
For me though, what I love best is The Lab has opened a new branch at Wisteria Mall in Yishun! With its main school at Katong V in East Coast, getting there on a weekly basis is a long journey. But with the new branch, sending Ayd to coding class at The Lab just got a little more convenient!
The layout of the new school at Wisteria Mall remains the same - a NO-CLASSROOM setting with flexible seating which allows kids to choose where they work and with whom.
The entire premise is modeled on the idea of a playground where there are no walls separating one kid from another.
And because each child is different in his or her own right, some will pick up coding faster than others, while some will show more interest in various aspects of coding. At The Lab, each child has its own student portal and he/she will be able to keep track of the progress of projects. Some kids may take longer to finish the same project but that is entrirely fine - there is no pressure to keep up and teachers will be present to provide any assistance if they should require it.
This is snapshot of what Ayd has accomplished so far. Truth be told, I don't quite understand! 🤣 But he was more than happy to explain to me and the wifey what he has done at The Lab, writing codes like the one below for his various projects.
In fact, one of his completed projects involved him coming up with a game that uses a sensor to gauge the distance the hand is from the sensor. The system randomly generates a distance and you are suppose to place your hand at the exact distance above the sensor, earning bonus points if you are accurate.
He showed it to me, and I have to say I was mightily impressed. His teachers told me after that he came up with the concept and code entirely on his own!
So, what are the benefits of coding for kids?
Encourages creativity
Coding has a beginning, middle and end, just like a story. Coding allows students to be creative without being wrong. If something doesn’t work, the student must analyze what isn’t working, ask why isn’t working, and determine how to correct it so that it does work. In essence, coding is the process of continually making mistakes, learning from them, and correcting them.
Making things visible
Young students are concrete thinkers and are beginning to follow step-by-step directions. These beginning stages of following first one step, then two steps, then multiple steps, are the start of algorithmic thinking in action. While the youngest learners may not understand this abstract concept, The Lab can use computer science to make their thinking visible.
Develop computational thinking
Coding exposes students to computational thinking, which involves problem-solving using computer science concepts. It enhances a student’s capabilities of Computational Thinking in a highly effective way.
For Ayd, he is aiming for The Lab X programme eventually. The Lab X is for kids who have completed The Lab 10-16 year old program, and is focused on inspiring students to pursue a degree in Computer Science or a degree that is technologically relevant.
Because the current Singapore MOE syllabus does not focus on Computer Science or CS related topics, making it prohibitive for students to pursue that career route, the purpose of The Lab X is to fill this gap so that students will have a better understanding and knowledge of requirements for pursuing a degree in Computer Science. It will also build confidence and prepare students in their new pursuits.
In terms of credibility, The Lab X is reviewed by the ISTD faculty of SUTD (Singapore University Technology and Design) which exemplifies that the student possesses a reasonably high level of Computational Thinking and programming skills.
If you wish to start off your kid in the world of coding without commiting to several months of classes, sign him/her up for The Lab's Holiday Program this December!
This 21st-century themed camp brings students aged 8 – 16 opportunities to pick up useful skillsets to prepare them for the future. This time, the camp has included VR Technology using Oculus for students to get inspired and excited. Students can choose between 3-day camps or one-day workshops and try out a multitude of different age-appropriate workshops per day from drone flying, 3D printing, to VR and exploring circuits and coding – all in 3 days!
DETAILS
Dates: 11, 12, 13 December 2019
Venue: PAssion WaVe @Marina Bay
Timings: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Price: $495 (3 days) (lunch provided)
Dates:17, 18, 19 December 2019
Venue: PAssion WaVe @Jurong Lake Gardens
Timings: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Price: $495 (3 days) (lunch provided)
Visit HERE for more information and to sign up.
Or you can sign your child up for a FREE CODING TRIAL CLASS!
Let your kids try out for one session at The Lab for FREE! Register for the free trial class at www.thelab.sg. Enter the promo code CM$50OFF when you sign up for the free trial to get a $50* off one-time membership fees!
*Not to be applied in conjunction with other discounts
Useful Information
The Lab
Address: Katong V, 30 East Coast Rd #03-15/16, Singapore 428751
and
Wisteria Mall, 598 Yishun Ring Rd #01-35/36, Singapore 768698
Tel. No: WhatsApp chat (+65) 8767-4557
Email: contact@thelab.sg
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