Coding Lab Student Feature: Evan Chua, 12, Gold Winner, HCIC 2022

Our students are our pride and joy, and we love celebrating their exciting coding journeys with them, including their achievements! We are very proud of how far our talented and bright student, Evan Chua, has come since he started coding with us at the age of 9! He has achieved the Gold Award (the second highest honour) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022!

Evan’s achievements are testament to his grit and perseverance, which he has honed over the years at Coding Lab through his willingness to solve challenging coding problems, and constantly asking questions in class so that he can understand complex coding concepts better! The Coding Lab team has interviewed Evan, who is advancing through S112 as of 2022, to find out more about his journey with coding thus far.

Image of Evan — *Meet Evan Chua, who enjoys coding on both Scratch and Python in his free time. He aspires to be a computer scientist in the future, and is working hard to achieve his goals!*

Hi Evan, tell us about yourself! What are your hobbies?

I’m Evan Chua, and I find English to be my personal favourite subject. Besides Coding, I am an avid player of chess, and I play the piano occasionally. In my free time, I either revise my work in preparation for the Preliminary Examinations and PSLE or Code. However, in light of the examinations which are imminent, I have spent more time on the former rather than the latter.

What do your friends and family say when they hear that you are a coder?

When they hear that I’m a coder, many of them are curious as they have heard about coding but wonder what’s it all about. I try to explain concepts I’ve learnt to them in simple terms and I feel a sense of accomplishment in sharing what I’m able to achieve in this new evolving area.

Congratulations on winning the Gold Award at the HCIC! How do you feel about your achievement?

I feel very satisfied with myself in attaining the gold award for the HCIC. This award was not easy to obtain. One must know technical knowledge whilst recalling coding, and apply it into the questions that require coding input.

“In this digital era, almost everything can be completed or done online. So, learning how to code is especially important now in order to not lose yourself in the maze of what is today’s ever-rapidly increasing complexity in technology.“

How was your HCIC experience? What have you learned? What was the best part of it?

The HCIC Experience was one of its kind. It was held at the computer room, which I had not entered in a long time. Also, there were many people gathered around, attempting to do some last minute revision. Overall, we had to enter a link and answer the questions from there. One thing I noticed was that they showed the mark demographic for each question. It was a bit similar to an exam, but also different.

How did you first get started with coding?

I first began coding at the age of 9. During the June Holidays, I was mostly sitting around doing nothing. Seeing my boredom, my Mother came across a Coding Camp, and suggested that I join. I found it interesting, especially with the lack of activities going on. Hence, I agreed, which is to this day one of the best decisions I had ever made.

Once at the facility, I was amazed by all the laptops and people. Others like me were present, and they all gave me an ineffable feeling that always made me laugh. My teacher at the time was very patient, guiding us all through the process slowly, and if we did not fully grasp the concept, she would explain it to us in clear detail. It was such a memorable experience that I joined the enrichment centre that held this program, Coding Lab.

What do you like about coding? How has coding made a difference in your life?

The part that I find the most meaningful is the part of creating something from nothing. When opening a Coding Platform, be it Scratch, Python, etc, I am exposed to a remarkable amount of code. Gradually, as I slowly debug and improve on my coding foundation, I am able to further consolidate my knowledge.

Coding has allowed me to think out of the box and find solutions for problems that I would not have solved had I not joined. Besides, I have also learnt a myriad of formulas that would prove very useful in the future. In Conclusion, Coding has left an indelible mark on me, and I will continue doing it even after my PSLE.

“Evan is a very jovial and enthusiastic learner who takes charge of his own learning. He also contributes purposefully in class discussion and offers constructive suggestions to the class. I love his positive attitude in learning which makes it enjoyable teaching him.“
– Educator Edmund

What are some difficulties that you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome it?

The first main difficulty I encountered was from Python, and it was the while loop. I simply could not wrap my head around the concept of how it worked and its applications in code. However, after extensive research and consultation with my teacher, I finally understood what it meant and its uses in code. Nowadays, I use it in almost all of my programs as it is much more efficient than just typing manually out one by one.

How did you get started at Coding Lab?

I got started in Coding Lab by joining the course offered in 2019. I like that one can independently do their work, and if they are stuck on something troublesome, the teachers are present to help them. Teacher Edmund has such a great sense of humour, I enjoyed it very much when he coached me on my DSA, and helped me as I made my Portfolio.

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

In this digital era, almost everything can be completed or done online. So, learning how to code is especially important now in order to not lose yourself in the maze of what is today’s ever-rapidly increasing complexity in technology.

“Coding has allowed me to think out of the box and find solutions for problems that I would not have solved had I not joined.“

Do you have a favourite project that you would like to share with us? Why is it your favourite?

By far, my favourite project will always be Generating permutations to r items from n items.

Image of Evan's permutation code — *Here is Evan’s favourite project – generating permutations!*

What are you coding right now? Any exciting future coding projects or dream project that you want to mention?

Currently, I am attempting to code so that I will have the ability to randomly generate passwords of my length and choice with adequate security, which is important for a password generator. Therefore, I am learning the ins and outs of the random module, a module required for randomly selecting from symbols, numbers and letters.

Image of Evan, who has begun his coding journey with us since 9 — *It is great to hear that coding made an impact on Evan’s dream!*

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up, I aspire to be a computer scientist. In this computerised era, digital knowledge is becoming more and more important in our lives. Hence, becoming a computer scientist will enable me to not only know about the latest technological advances, but also make an indelible contribution toward technology.

Do you have any advice for young people who are learning to code?

One piece of advice that is essential when coding is to not give up. Giving up shows that you are unwilling to learn, be it from mistakes or from obstacles that may come your way. If you persevere, you will at least internalise the information and learn how to apply in future code. If you have queries, try to figure it out by yourself first. If you really are unsure, please consult your teachers. They are there for a reason, and that is to help you with your code.

We are so happy to hear that Evan has benefited under the caring guidance of our experienced educators, and that our curriculum has played a role in honing his critical thinking skills! 🌏

Here at Coding Lab, we take pride in taking our students’ aspirations seriously, as our mission is to nurture future leaders in technology and help our students reach their fullest potentials! We hope that Evan’s journey and aspirations will motivate you to consider investing in your child’s education in coding!

Evan Chua started attending P101 Scratch 1 class at Coding Lab when he was barely 9 years of age and has advanced his way to S112 Python 2 by the time he was 12. He was awarded the Gold Award (the second highest honour) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022.

Our #CodingLabStudents series features our ambitious students and their ongoing coding journeys – be it the budding coder or advanced Python Pro, we appreciate each and every single one’s efforts as they progress to greater heights. 🌱

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!

(Written by Thinzar and Gracia)

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Aidan Sin, 12, Platinum Award Winner, HCIC 2022

We love seeing our students shine and grow as they develop their coding skills and discover how they can find success through coding! Meet one of them today: our student Aidan Sin, age 12, who won the Platinum Award (the highest honour) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022!

Image of Aidan playing chess — *Meet Aidan Sin, who enjoys challenging himself through various coding challenges, even applying his knowledge of Mathematics to his programs!*

Aidan found his passion and confidence for programming at Coding Lab, and has recently completed our advanced S100 Python Classes during the holidays! He particularly enjoys integrating his knowledge of mathematics in his coding projects, and has shared with the Coding Lab Team about his fascination with the limitless possibilities that coding provides! There are so many ways to approach a coding challenge, which enables him to let his creativity and imagination flow!

They are impressed by the projects I have made! Coding is also complementary with my interest in maths and problem-solving. Now, it is pretty common for kids to pick up coding skills; once a coder, with passion – always a coder.

Hi Aidan, tell us about yourself! What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Hi! I am Aidan Sin, a keen learner with an inquisitive mind. I am 12 this year. During my free time, I enjoy playing English Chess, Chinese Chess and Wei Qi as these games relax me.

I also like watching Youtube videos relating to maths puzzles, science facts, solving complex video games as well as strategy techniques (eg. 孙子兵法，三十六计，三国演义 etc). I like to think about perplexing problems and take on challenges. When I come up with an idea, I like to code it into Python and see if it would work. To further challenge myself, I incorporated Maths into it as well!

What do your friends and family say when they hear that you are a coder?

My family members are intrigued when I said I started coding at 7 years old. They are impressed by the projects I have made! Coding is also complementary with my interest in maths and problem-solving. Now, it is pretty common for kids to pick up coding skills; once a coder, with passion – always a coder.

Congratulations on winning the Platinum Award at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC)! How do you feel about your achievement?

I am pleased with myself after winning the Platinum Award at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC). I know that getting this award is no easy task as I put in a lot of time and hardwork in preparing for HCIC.

Image of Aidan who has won many awards outside of coding — *Aidan has won awards outside of coding as well!*

How was your HCIC experience? What have you learned? What was the best part of it?

The HCIC experience was relatively simple: I stayed back in school, took the test on a computer, and went back home. The best part of the experience was meeting up with old friends. Most of my friends that I knew were either in other classes or were too busy with schoolwork so during this short period before taking the test, I could catch up and have a chat with them.

Tell us how you first got started with coding!

I started my coding journey when I was in Lower Primary 2. During that time, my Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) was Robotics. I was using the Lego Mindstorm to build a robot. Apart from constructing and adding features to it, I was able to use the computer to enable the robot to complete a certain task using code. At first, I was unfamiliar with this coding language but slowly, with the help of my peers, I was finally able to use it! I was even able to represent my school and participated in a National Robotics School Competition with my team.

Subsequently, I discovered Scratch where I started coding more programs. When these programs worked, I was overjoyed! Personally, I see Coding as a vast grassland. With the programs I built, it felt like as I added more houses to the civilisation that I built, it helped others while also benefiting myself.

Image of Aidan with his parents — *Aidan is pictured with his parents, who signed him up for Coding Lab’s classes and supported him in his journey in coding!*

How did you get started at Coding Lab?

Since I was super interested in coding, my mother searched the web and found Coding Lab. The lessons are packed and filled with knowledge and information which I liked! The lessons were fun and progressively allowed me to challenge myself and learn accordingly. I really want to thank and appreciate Teacher Edmund, he fused fun and laughter in class. I enjoyed attending his class. With his help and preparing my DSA portfolio, I got better at coding!

What do you like about coding? How has coding made a difference to your life?

I like coding as I can use it in limitless ways and many different ways to solve a coding program. Not only am I able to use my left brain in executing the coding process but I can also use my right brain to generate new ideas for my next coding project!

Through coding, I can use both my left brain and right brain, enabling me to be more creative and innovative at the same time! It also teaches me to be patient and to think outside the box when debugging my code. These key virtues are essential during our daily lives, that is why learning to code is so important.

Image of Aidan coding on Scratch — *Here at Coding Lab, we encourage our students to engage in individualised learning and independent studying at home, especially for older or more advanced students!*

What are some difficulties you faced while learning to code, and how did you overcome them?

Debugging is a tedious task. Debugging and fixing errors in my code are often the challenges that I faced in the past —- and will continue to face as long as my passion for coding continues. These obstacles can be overcome. I needed to “become the computer” and run through the entire program bit by bit until I spotted the error.

Do you have a favourite coding project that you would like to share with us?

I could make a Prime Factorisation program to help out in my Maths, or I can create a Quiz to provide entertainment to my peers!

Here is Aidan’s Prime Factorisation program. He also has a website full of coding projects that he has created as part of his DSA portfolio. Check it out here!

“Aidan is an exceptional and independent student who is enthusiastic in his learning. I am especially impressed by his determination and perseverance in tackling challenges. When encountering something new, he always relishes the challenge of solving the problem by thinking about it from different perspectives.“

– Educator Edmund

What are you coding right now? Do you have any exciting future coding projects or dream projects that you would like to mention?

I have not been coding much lately, as I am preparing for my PSLE. After my exams, I will be sure to start working on some interesting projects that hope to solve some complex world issues.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

My future? I aspire to combine my coding skills and maths & science knowledge to solve people’s problems around the world.

Do you have any advice for young people who are learning to code?

My advice for young people who are learning to code is to keep pursuing your dream, whatever you do, do not give up on your dream. If you work hard enough, it will come true one day.

Thank you Aidan for sharing with us about your passion for coding, and for the words of wisdom you have given for other young people who are learning to code! 🌏

We hope that you are as inspired by Aidan’s thirst for knowledge, enthusiasm for coding and love for learning as we are, and that this will motivate you to take the first step in your very own journey with code!

Aidan Sin, who turns 13 this year, was a student at Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School. He attended P201 App Inventor class at Coding Lab when he was barely 10 years old and advanced his way to our S203 Algorithm course by the time he was 12. Aidan was awarded the Platinum Award (highest honour) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022.

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!

(Written by Thinzar and Gracia)

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Coding Lab Student Feature: 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.

Student Feature - Jun Min header (900x600px) — *Jun Min, now a student at NUS High, has a love for coding and drawing. Putting the two together, he is excited by the possibility of becoming an app and game developer!*

You may also recognise him when he won 2nd Place in our International Coding Showcase 2020 Ages 10-12 (Scratch) category and 3rd Place in our Young Coders’ Global Hackathon 2020 in the Junior Category (Ages 7-12). Let’s hear from Jun Min about his DSA experience and coding journey thus far!

Hi Jun Min, Congratulations on entering NUS High School of Math and Science through DSA! How do you feel about your achievement?

I feel very happy and fortunate to enter NUS High! I decided to put NUS High as my first choice because of my passion in STEM, along with its other merits. The DSA process was quite an important and humbling learning experience. Through the different stages, I persevered and thankfully succeeded in the end!

“Coding has influenced my life a lot. I realised that there is the possibility for me to pursue a career in app and game designing, which will become very important in the future because of the advancement of technology.“

I’m sure your coding journey has come a long way since our interview back in 2018! What were the difficulties you faced along the way and how did you overcome them?

Back in the days, I faced quite a few challenges when coding with Python because I was not used to the new programming language. I initially struggled to keep up, but I decided to practise more and finally completed the course!

To further strengthen my coding abilities, I definitely want to join more competitions in future. I hope these will strengthen my coding abilities by providing friendly competition, which will encourage me to practise and try out new things.

Catch 11-year-old Jun Min’s Technology Clicker Scratch project that he submitted for the International Coding Showcase (SG-JP) 2020.

“Coding is a very important life skill to have, given that technology continues to be very crucial in our lives. Learning to code is the start to helping children become digitally savvy and not get left behind.”

How has coding impacted your life?

Well, coding has influenced my life a lot. I realised that there is the possibility for me to pursue a career in app and game designing, which will become very important in the future because of the advancement of technology. It is also one of my favourite pastimes when I need to de-stress!

In your previous student feature, you shared with us your hobbies and a photo of you and your awesome birthday cake! What have you been up to since then? Do you have any updates?

Since the last interview, I have been learning all about new programming languages and new functions. Recently, I have been trying to create and code modifications to one of my favourite games, Kerbal Space Program. I still enjoy coding, creating and designing games, cycling, swimming and drawing – my hobbies haven’t really changed, but have advanced slightly such as going on very long cycling trips. I am also still passionate about Mathematics!

Image of Jun Min with his favourite characters on a cake

Student Feature - Jun Min turns 10 with cake

Nowadays, I would be happy with a plain cake! But if there were decorations, I would want it to have features of Kerbal Space Program or Minecraft (which my mom has made in previous years).

What is your current favourite coding project?

My favourite project is still the ‘Fight Covid-19’ project for the YCGH! This is because it is quite fun and unique, and yet features realistic simulations of the pandemic, when the pandemic was still in its early phases. The project combined my two passions – coding and mathematics. It was a meaningful project as well!

Watch Jun Min’s favourite coding project Fight COVID-19 that he presented for the Young Coders’ Global Hackathon 2020.

Why do you think learning how to code is so important?

I feel that coding is a very important life skill to have, given that technology continues to be very crucial in our lives. Learning to code is the start to helping children become digitally savvy and not get left behind. Coding is also a way to contribute to society by coding useful or entertaining apps and games, which may shape the world we live in.

Finally, do you have any advice for young people like you who want to start or are learning to code?

Coding may seem difficult at first, but once you get the hang of the basics and if you are interested in it, it will be extremely fun and rewarding.

Thank you for sharing your programming journey with us, Jun Min! 😃 We are so proud to see you grow from the curious and determined young 7-year-old Scratch student – that we invited to our Gifted Coders class – to becoming a coding pro, and now getting into your dream school at NUS High School of Math and Science! We hope that Jun Min’s story inspires many other young coders to take the step to learn to code, explore the vast world of possibilities, and to harness the skill to contribute to society and shape our world! 🌏

Wang Jun Min has been attending classes at Coding Lab since 2016 – from Scratch 1 when he was Primary 1, joining our Gifted Coders class and advancing through our curriculum. Jun Min, who turns 13 this year, won 2nd Place in our International Coding Showcase 2020 Ages 10-12 (Scratch) category and 3rd Place in our Young Coders’ Global Hackathon 2020 in the Junior Category (Ages 7-12).

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!

(Written by Cheryl Tang and Zulaikha)

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Coding Lab Student Feature: 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!

Welcome to another edition of Coding Lab’s Student Features. Today’s precocious guest is 13-year-old Darius Yong, who made us proud by successfully securing a place at the School of Science and Technology (SST) in advance through Direct School Admission (DSA)!

Click to watch the video version of our interview with Darius! 👆

Hi Darius! Congratulations on entering SST through DSA! How do you feel about this achievement?

Thanks for asking, I am definitely excited as I know SST will provide many opportunities to further my interest in coding. At the same time, I am glad that I don’t have to worry about which Secondary School to choose in the Secondary 1 posting.

*Meet Darius, who won the Most Innovative Award at the International Coding Showcase 2020!*

Tell us how you first got started with coding. What do you like most about it?

When I was about 9, my father bought me a book that taught me how to program in Scratch. I followed the guide and learnt how to program in Scratch. About one and a half years later, I started lessons with Coding Lab in App Inventor and Python. I had lots of fun exploring different programming languages and platforms.

Watch Darius’ award-winning International Coding Showcase project here!

How did you get started with Coding Lab?

I learnt about Coding Lab from my mum, she signed me up for the App Inventor course, which I really enjoyed. After that, I went on for Python courses.

How has Coding Lab’s DSA Preparation Programme made an impact in your coding journey?

Coding has helped me improve my way of thinking and allowed me to be more patient when there were bugs. Coding has also broadened my exposure as I was able to take part in competitions. I have won the Most Innovative Award from the International Coding Showcase 2020 and also placed within the Top 20 winners for the Coding Olympics 2021.

Could you share with us why you think learning to code is so important?

We are definitely living in an era of technology, learning coding is important because it can help us and the community to solve problems in possibly new, creative and efficient ways. It also taught me to be persistent and not give up easily when I hit a snag.

What are the difficulties you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome them?

Meeting bugs is definitely part of a programmer’s journey. To overcome them, I would Google for solutions or look through my class notes.

“Darius is an extremely motivated and dedicated learner that always gives his best effort in attempting the questions. He has been progressing well, especially for someone of his age, he has shown a high level of understanding of the Python concepts taught and has applied them well in different areas by creating his own projects.“

– Educator Evan

Apart from coding, what else do you like to do in your spare time?

I’m still a kid so I like reading as well as playing all types of games from Minecraft, Mario Kart, Game of Life and also Heart Attack! I also go for TaeKwonDo classes and earned my black belt this year.

*Outside of coding, Darius is passionate about martial arts, too!*

Do you have any advice for young people like you who want to start coding?

Never give up on your dreams in coding or in anything you wanna do!

What is your favourite coding project so far and why?

Definitely my Math Game. During the first circuit breaker last year in 2020, I combined both my love for Math and coding to create a Math Revision & Game project for my peers. I came up with the problem sums myself and coded the project in Scratch. I presented it to my Math teacher in School and she loved the idea and shared it with all my peers in school.

GIF of Darius’ Scratch-based Math Game — *Play Darius’ Scratch-based Math Game here! 👆*

Who is your favourite Educator? If there is one thing you could say to them, what would it be?

This is really a tough one for me …. I can’t really decide who my favourite tutor is but I want to say “Thank You!” to all the tutors who have taught me at Coding Lab! You are all awesome and I am inspired to be like you!

Image of Darius smiling and waving at the camera — *All the best at SST, Darius! We know you’ll excel in your new school!*

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Darius! Your Educators are proud of you for all of your achievements – in both coding and academics!

Darius began his coding journey at Coding Lab with P205+P206 – Python Junior, before progressing his way up to S203 – Algorithm. Find your own starting point here with us by browsing our course catalogue today!

(Written by Lixin, Edited by Thinzar)

Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.

Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

A Peek Into Our Course: Advanced Computer Scientists (P21S) – Broad-Based Exposure to STEM Topics

Should my child DSA (Coding)? Coding Lab’s P300 Portfolio Preparation Programme for DSA

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Aarhan Salujah, 13, St Joseph’s Institution

Coding Lab Educator Feature: Ryan Wong

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Coding Lab Student Feature: 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!

Watch the video version of Aarhan’s interview here.

Hi Aarhan, Congratulations on entering SJI through DSA! How do you feel about this achievement?

I feel on top of the world, and I feel that all my hard work has paid off!

Student Feature - Aarhan (1) — *Aarhan is a budding programmer who aspires to be a nanoscientist and doctor that helps others with technology.*

“Coding gives wings to my imagination and creativity. … But what I love the most is the fact that one can manipulate the code to do whatever they want, and the only limit is your creativity.”

Tell us how you first got started with coding!

I was in Primary 3 when I had my first encounter with Coding. One day in school, there was a robotics showcase, and I thought “This looks fun!”, which spurred me to try coding. It turned out to be fun, and I found my passion for it! I first learnt Scratch and mBot in school, and so far I’ve picked up Micro:bit, Python, App Inventor, and am still in the process of learning Javascript and so much more.

What do you like most about coding?

Coding gives wings to my imagination and creativity. It helps me actualise the blueprint of my ideas on the screen, and I pick up my innovations from the things I use or see in my daily life!

While it is really hard, it is really fun and it allows me to explore new possibilities in the digital world. But what I love the most is the fact that one can manipulate the code to do whatever they want, and the only limit is your creativity.

Catch 11-year-old Aarhan enthusing about coding and his future aspirations in an earlier interview video.

How did you benefit from the programmes at Coding Lab?

The coding programmes at Coding Lab equipped me with the knowledge of various coding languages, block interfaces and a deeper understanding of how to manipulate codes to fit into my projects. The classes helped me to perfect all these skills.

I can’t thank my teachers enough for being approachable, friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and creative at the same time. My ideas were constantly discussed in the sessions, which she elicited from me without spoon-feeding. She helped to boost my confidence and creativity to a whole new level.

What I liked most about my lessons were the teachers as they were always encouraging us to ask questions. Thanks to Coding Lab, I have learnt 3 languages, Python, App Inventor and Java, and my learning experiences have further fuelled my passion for coding.

“Aarhan has always displayed a good understanding of the lessons and takes an active role in discussions. He explains his codes well, which demonstrates a clear thought process, and is one of the important criteria in being a programmer!”
– Educator Rachel

Check out Aarhan’s Obstacle Game that he coded and presented in our ICS 2020, which earned him a Merit Award!

What are the difficulties you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome them?

There were many times when I had a certain idea in my head, but to apply that, the code wouldn’t fit or a minor improvisation was needed. I realised then that having a mature guidance – even in the simplest project – would take me to my desired result.

What is your favourite project and why?

Student Feature - Aarhan Presentation of Kites on Microbit — *A snippet of the light show in Aarhan’s Kites project on Micro:bit.*

The last and most recent project that I worked on is titled Kites, coded using Micro:bit. I was inspired to make it based on an international kite festival called Uttrayan that takes place every year in India. The kites fly up in the sky, and the goal is to cut the other person’s kite. Since I have not been able to visit India for 2 years now, I replicated it and created this game to be able to play it.

There are two kites marked by red lights – the player’s and the opponent’s kite. The player’s kite has ten lives and its light blinks while the opponent’s kite light is steady.

When I coded this game, I used the game components for the first time and initially had difficulties with the lives and scores. After a lot of trial and error, perseverance and rearrangement of the code blocks, I was finally able to come to an end product that I was satisfied with!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a scientist when I grow up, like a nanoscientist, to control everything through nanochips. And then after that, I’m going to become a doctor and use my little microchips to help detect and diagnose diseases in patients.

What advice would you give to young coders like yourself?

Just go ahead. The path may look a little rocky, but trust me, it leads to a whole new world of imagination and wonder. So, don’t give up and keep marching ahead!

Thank you for sharing your programming journey with us, Aarhan! 😃 We are so proud to see you grow from the confident 11-year-old App Inventor student to getting into your dream school at St Joseph’s Institution. We hope that your story inspires many other young coders like yourself to pick up programming, explore the vast world of possibilities, and harness the skill to change the world for the better! 🌏

Aarhan Saluja has been attending classes at Coding Lab since May 2020 – from App Inventor 1 and 2, advancing to Python Junior 1 and 2, and now progressing through our Advanced Computer Scientists programme. He was also in the Portfolio Preparation programme for DSA. Aarhan, who turns 13 this year, won the Merit Award in our annual International Coding Showcase 2020.

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 4 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!

(Written by Zulaikha and Oliver, Edited by Cheryl)

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Isaac Khong, 11, and Alicia Khong, 9, Radin Mas Primary School

For today’s student feature, we’ve invited two curious coders. Meet Isaac (aged 11) and Alicia Khong (aged 9), who won the Social Impact Award and People’s Choice Award respectively during the International Coding Showcase 2020, and also Judges’ Choice (Most Innovative) and Judges’ Choice (Best Design) respectively during the International Coding Showcase 2021! These clever and articulate siblings began their coding journey one after another, here at Coding Lab. Don’t miss this first-ever double-bill student feature!

Watch the video version of the Khong siblings’ interview here.

Tell us how you first got started with coding. What do you like most about it?

Isaac: When I was young, I often saw my father using the computer in his room. I was curious about what he was doing and asked him. When I found out that he was coding, I asked if I could start it as I was always fascinated by the computer.

I got my first Windows computer when I was in Primary One, and I started learning basic Scratch on my own with a book that my father had bought me. I was fascinated that you could do so many different things with the computer and I wanted to do more. My favourite part about coding is that you can ask the computer to do whatever you want to get a result.

Alicia: My brother started coding, and I felt that it would be interesting, so I followed him and started coding too. I like how it works – if you type something, and if the code is right, then something happens.

*Meet the Khong siblings – Alicia (aged 10) and Isaac (aged 12)!*

It’s awesome to hear that you were both inspired by family members! How did you decide to begin your coding journey with Coding Lab?

Photo of Alicia coding — *Alicia started coding at the age of 7 and gets inspiration for her latest coding projects from her family.*

Isaac: I was researching about coding schools when I found Coding Lab. Although I looked through many schools, Coding Lab caught my attention as it offered a huge variety of programming languages and had a structured curriculum.

Alicia: I saw my brother going to Coding Lab, and he said it was fun, so I tried Coding Lab.

How has coding made a difference in your life since?

Isaac: I have been coding almost every day and I have started to learn how computers work. Additionally, I have also started to teach coding to my sister. So instead of being just a user of technology, I have learned how to create new technology.

Alicia: It helps me develop a new interest, I can use my free time to make a new animation or platformer on Scratch.

Could you share with us why you think learning to code is so important?

Photo of Isaac coding — *Isaac is passionate about harnessing tech to better our future – as can be seen from the projects that he codes!*

Alicia: I believe learning to code can help me to organise my thinking.

Isaac: I think coding is important as the world is continuously moving and changing to a more urbanised and high-tech world. In the future, many things would be controlled with computers and computer chips. Learning to code allows me to create technology to contribute to society next time.

What are the difficulties you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome them?

Photo of Alicia by the pond — *Aside from coding, Alicia is passionate about reading and writing, with a journal collection of her very own stories.*

Alicia: While I was learning Scratch, I sometimes had difficulties trying to think of new and interesting project ideas, so I would ask my family members what animations they want to see.

Isaac: Some of the challenges I have faced are syntax errors, methods and functions. When I face these issues, I try my best to look for solutions and voice out for help when needed.

Do you have any advice for young people like you who are beginning their coding journey?

Alicia: When you start to learn coding, it may be quite difficult and challenging, but if you keep trying and learning, you will succeed. You will then have a new way of creating your own projects and ideas.

“Alicia is a studious and brilliant learner who is able to adapt to new areas of knowledge swiftly and effectively. Her ability to do this led to her picking up advanced Scratch skills and even the intricacies of the Micro:Bit hardware in no time. She is always able to understand the concepts taught in class, and is a helpful girl who takes part in class discussions to promote the learning of fellow classmates.”
— Educator Hovan

Screenshot of Isaac Khong presenting his FIFA Python program for International Coding Showcase 2021 — *Isaac is an avid coder and FIFA fanatic (this screenshot shows a snippet of his impressive FIFA Python program!) who enjoys reading books and watching documentaries in his free time.*

Isaac: I would encourage young people to learn coding as technology is forming the future like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Blockchain. Start by learning simple programming with blocks and Graphical User Interface (GUI). Some websites and tools you can use to begin your coding journey include Scratch, Lego Mindstorms or Micro:Bit. This enables you to have a strong foundation in coding. You can then continue with App Inventor and Python to enhance your skills. This way, you can learn coding more productively just like how I progressed through the Coding Lab syllabus.

“Isaac is a very responsible and independent student who has shown great understanding in programming. He displays great interest in programming and is very attentive to detail. With a strong and stable foundation in coding, Isaac displays self discipline and great concentration. He shows great enthusiasm towards learning and on many occasions, I have seen him attempting the challenges before the rest and he is helpful and willing to share his knowledge with his classmates.”
— Educator Edmund

Click to watch Alicia’s International Coding Showcase 2020’s Scratch project, “Catch the Balloon”, which won her the People’s Choice Award!

View Isaac’s entrepreneurial budgeting Python project (which draws graphs for you) that he submitted for the International Coding Showcase 2020 here!

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, Alicia and Isaac. Hearing about your growing passion for coding certainly warms our Educators’ hearts – and our readers’ too!

*Until next time – we look forward to your future achievements, Isaac and Alicia!*

The Khong siblings’ coding journey is an example of how childhood interest, when nurtured, can blossom into a useful new skill. Through the shared learning experience of coding, their bond has become stronger than ever!

Isaac Khong began his journey at Coding Lab with our App Inventor and Python Junior courses in 2020 – and progressed through our S200 Advanced Electives (for ages 13 to 18) by the time he was 12. Isaac was awarded the Social Impact Award in our International Coding Showcase 2020 and Judges’ Choice (Most Innovative) in our International Coding Showcase 2021.

Alicia Khong’s first coding class was Scratch One in 2020, and she got to hone her coding capabilities in our Young Computer Scientists. She’s now delving into App Inventor! Alicia, 10, was awarded the People’s Choice Award in our International Coding Showcase 2020 and Judges’ Choice (Best Design) in our International Coding Showcase 2021.

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!

(Written by Zulaikha and Lixin)

Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Kyran Tan, 12, Queenstown Primary School

Meet 12-year-old Kyran Tan who won 1st Place (Python for Ages 10-12) at the International Coding Showcase 2020 (JP-SG) and also clinched Distinction (Electives for Ages 13 to 18) at the International Coding Showcase 2021 (JP-SG). We interviewed this precocious primary schooler about his programming journey at Coding Lab. Read on to find out more about Kyran!

… Or watch this video interview to hear from Kyran himself!

Hello, Kyran! How did your adventure with coding begin? What do you like most about it?

I first started coding when my mother introduced me to Scratch Jr. I found it interesting as I could create simple games and animations. I started to code more frequently, learning more and more things along the way. The part I liked most about coding was that I could use my own imagination and creativity to create the things I wanted.

Screenshot of Kyran (bottom right) with his Coding Lab classmates — *Kyran (bottom right) having fun with his Coding Lab classmates in an online class!*

How did you get started with Coding Lab?

I wanted to learn more about coding but did not know where to start. After some research, my mother enrolled me for Coding Lab lessons. I have just completed my S100 series (Python Foundation) and I can’t wait to start on the S200 series (Advanced Electives)!

“The part I liked most about coding was that I could use my own imagination and creativity to create the things I wanted.”

We’re excited to have you at Coding Lab too! Could you share how coding has made a difference in your life?

Coding allows me to understand what goes behind animations, games and applications. I learnt to appreciate the hard work that developers put into their creation, however simple it may seem.

I have also learnt to be more organised. As the code gets longer, it is important for me to be organised so that it is easier to debug the code.

“Kyran is an exceptional student who is enthusiastic in his learning. He is organised and attentive to details, and does not shy away from asking questions in class. When encountering something unfamiliar, he is able to solve problems quickly and with minimal hints.

I am very impressed by Kyran’s determination and perseverance. Kyran always gives his very best to tackle class challenges on his own. With his knowledge and passion for coding, he has repeatedly shown great improvement in his classes and it is a joy to have him as our Coding Lab student.”

– Educator Edmund

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

Many things rely on coding to work. This includes phone apps, websites or desktop applications. For example, coding can be used to create applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Discord to connect with our friends online. It also makes life easier for us. Instead of spending time doing repetitive routines, coding can help us to create automations on our computer.

“I learnt not to give up as there will definitely be a solution out there.”

What difficulties did you face while learning to code – and how did you overcome them?

When learning to code, sometimes my code does not work. To overcome this, I will search for solutions and ask if needed. I learnt not to give up as there will definitely be a solution out there.

Photo of Kyran using his laptop — *The confident and passionate coder has built lots of complex programs at a young age.*

Apart from coding, what do you do in your spare time?

I like to play Roblox and read books related to it. I also enjoy reading non-fiction books!

Tell us, what is your future dream school?

I hope to go to a school that focuses on Science and Technology subjects as these are where my interest lie. It would be great if the school offers the opportunity for me to learn more programming languages too!

*Kyran dreams of becoming a software application developer in the future.*

Do share with us what your dream job is!

My dream job is to become a software application developer, where I can create, test and upgrade apps for others to use. I plan to learn programming languages such as Python and C# and be proficient enough to get the job.

I’m interested in learning C# as I can use this language to create Universal Windows Platform (UWP)* apps that can be published to the Microsoft Store. (I am a huge fan of Microsoft!)

*UWP is a common programming platform for all Microsoft products, including Windows, Xbox, Surface Hub and HoloLens.

That’s so cool! We wish you all the best. Do you have any advice for young people like you to begin their journey with coding?

I would tell them that coding may seem intimidating at first. However, with more practice, coding can be so much fun. So take that first step to learn coding and don’t give up even when you are faced with challenges!

Last but not least, what is your favourite project – and why?

My favourite project is the Clockc programme which I created for my own use. This programme includes functions like Timer, Alarm, StopWatch and Countdown. There is also a unique “Work ‘n Rest” function which reminds me when to work and rest my eyes. I find this project useful as it is an all-in-one program that contains many functions related to time.

Click here to watch a lively video explanation of Kyran’s award-winning Clockc programme – expertly edited by our champion himself!

Thank you for sharing your coding journey with us, Kyran! He started learning at Coding Lab with App Inventor in 2020, and has quickly progressed on to our S200 Advanced Electives (for ages 13-18). His passion for programming shines with lots of potential, and we’re so excited to see what the future has in store for him!

Kyran also emerged as the winner in the Ages 10 to 12 (Python) category in our International Coding Showcase 2020. He also clinched Distinction in the Ages 13 to 18 (Electives) category in our International Coding Showcase 2021!

Watch the video to learn how Wallety, Kyran’s submission for the International Coding Showcase 2021, helps to manage your expenses. Truly an amazing project indeed!

Young programmers like Kyran demonstrate that it’s never too early to embark on your own coding journey! We hope that you’ll be an inspiration to others for them to pick up coding, no matter the age. ✨

Coding Lab is committed to bringing coding literacy to children ages 4-18. Find out more here.

(Written by Zulaikha and Lixin)

Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.

Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

A Peek Into Our Course: Advanced Computer Scientists (P21S) – Broad-Based Exposure to STEM Topics

Should my child DSA (Coding)? Coding Lab’s P300 Portfolio Preparation Programme for DSA

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Aarhan Salujah, 13, St Joseph’s Institution

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All About NFTs, Simplified

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Justin, NUS High School of Math and Science

In another exciting student feature, we have Justin, a bright-eyed boy passionate about Mathematics and Coding, who entered NUS High School of Math and Science. Let’s get to know our Gifted Coders graduate who started learning to code at the tender age of seven! 🤩

Photo of Justin on holiday — *Justin smiling happily while on holiday*.

Hi Justin! Congratulations on entering NUS High through DSA! How do you feel about this achievement?

I felt very happy (and relieved) as I have always wanted to get into NUS High. In fact, it was my dream school ever since my family drove past some years back and the word “Math” caught my attention. Later on, I chanced upon a YouTube video that featured Pi digits on the aluminium panels above the concourse. Being a Math enthusiast, I was very fascinated. I was over the moon when I finally received the Confirmed Offer letter!

“After I learnt how to code, I was able to understand how games are created. It is fun to know what goes on behind the scenes!”

Tell us how you first got started with coding. What do you like most about it?

Photo of Justin and friends in class (1200x628) — *Justin (far right) and his friends in the Gifted Coders class.*

My parents thought that I would enjoy coding so they signed me up for Coding Lab’s Scratch holiday programme when I was seven years old. I enjoyed designing games using Scratch and playing other users’ games!

Later on, I was spotted by my tutors to be accelerated and was invited to join the Gifted Coders’ class where I learnt Python programming language. What I enjoyed most about Python is how I am able to create programs that can solve Mathematics problems.

“The current world is technology-driven, hence it will benefit us if we understand how to code in order to stay relevant. It also teaches us how to think logically.”

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

Photo of Justin — *An avid Math lover, Justin finds it gratifying to solve problems with code.*

Coding is what we use to invent machines, robots and video games. Without coding, we will not be able to enjoy apps like Zoom, GrabFood, Deliveroo and Foodpanda. I mean, just imagine how these things have benefited us during the pandemic!

The current world is technology-driven, hence it will benefit us if we understand how to code in order to stay relevant. It also teaches us how to think logically.

What are the difficulties you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome them?

When I first started Python, I found many errors in my code. I had to constantly seek help from my teacher and over time, I gradually understood the reason behind my errors and I learnt how to debug independently without her help.

“Debugging has helped me learn how to troubleshoot whenever I face a problem. Every time I manage to do it, it feels very shiok!”

What is your favourite project and why?

I enjoy how the aliquot sequence works, so my preferred type of code is one that calculates the aliquot sequence works of a number. My favourite project is the one I did for my Gifted Coders graduation, which can solve simultaneous and quadratic equations! Check it out below.

How has coding made a difference in your life?

Photo of Justin on holiday 2 — *In his free time, Justin enjoys listening to music, doing science kits, playing card or board games with his sisters, cycling with his family and playing with the Rubik’s cube.*

After I learnt how to code, I was able to understand how games are created. It is fun to know what goes on behind the scenes! With my Python knowledge and my passion for Math, I was even able to code a program that calculated the sum of factors for every number. I was also able to create Math problem-solving programs using Python and I found it to be truly rewarding indeed!

Do you have any advice for young people like you who are learning to code?

I would highly recommend young people to pick up Python, especially with Coding Lab’s Python programme! The language is very relevant in today’s technology-driven world and with it, you’re able to create solutions for real-world problems!

Thank you for sharing your coding journey with us, Justin! We are so happy and proud to see you grow from the bright 7-year-old Scratch student – that we invited to our Gifted Coders class – to a Python pro, and is now in our S200 Advanced Electives. We hope that Justin’s story will be an inspiration, and we look forward to what he will achieve in the future! 😉

(Written by Zulaikha)

Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.

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Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

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Coding Lab Student Feature: Ng Chen-Yi, 13, Hwa Chong Institution

Here at Coding Lab, we have welcomed a myriad of students from all walks of life – and today, we would like to introduce you to one of our bright students who loves water polo and gaming: Chen-Yi!

The Secondary 1 student is studying in his dream school Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) after entering through Direct School Admission (DSA) with Water Polo. He has been acing InfoComm, a compulsory academic subject in HCI, and his friends even frequently seek him out for advice!

Chen-Yi’s passion for coding has also caught the eyes of his Coding Lab tutors who acknowledge his budding potential. 👀 Absolutely incredible! Keep on reading to learn more about this ambitious individual!

Hi Chen-Yi! Tell us how you got started with coding. What do you like most about it?

I started self-learning how to code when I was in Primary 3 because I felt that it would be interesting to write my own programs and watch them work. I began with the basic programming platform Scratch, but while learning Scratch, I discovered Python, which to me seemed much more interesting than Scratch. Thus after finishing a Scratch course, I started to learn Python on my own using a book my father had bought for me.

I like programming because I get to make anything I want. I could remix a simple game like Flappy Bird, or test my programming knowledge by taking on a more ambitious project. Programming is also able to help me in my daily life – for example, I got to make a program that prime factorizes a number, and this has helped me speed up my productivity while doing homework!

“Programming is also able to help me in my daily life – for example, I got to make a program that prime factorizes a number, and this has helped me speed up my productivity while doing homework!”

Your tutor Evan informed us that you’ve been experimenting a lot with Django this term! You have even created a few side projects on your own, which is super impressive! What has made you so interested in Django?

I think that making a dynamic webpage is more fun than just a simple HTML static webpage. Django has also helped me to understand the workings behind some big sites. I made my project so that I could experiment with login pages and chatrooms.

“Chen-Yi is an independent learner that has displayed commitment in learning the concepts. He has demonstrated that he understands the concepts taught in class well to apply and customise them into his web application. Despite being new to Django and Web Development, he is able to understand most of the concepts covered and takes the initiative to find out the possible projects we can explore by researching it himself during his personal time.”
– Tutor Evan

What difficulties did you face while learning to code?

To be honest I didn’t really know what I was doing in the first few months of learning how to program, and I only really picked it up after a year. At the time, I did not have a laptop or computer to work on, hence I resorted to writing code on trinket.io.

Surprisingly, I was still able to write programs even though I had to constantly switch between the tutorial app and the browser. These first steps, though slightly inconvenient, have made me even more resilient and determined to continue learning how to program. You could even say that those first few months were the “appetizer” to my love for programming now!

What do you like about coding classes at Coding Lab?

I came for classes at Coding Lab as being in a class allows me to learn more in-depth, under the guidance of professional teachers. In a class, I can ask the teachers questions, rather than Googling the questions on the internet, as sometimes you don’t get a straight-cut answer from Google.

As Coding Lab is far from my house, I opted for online lessons so that I am able to learn without difficulties! I like coding classes at Coding Lab as I am able to ask the teachers for help whenever I need it, and the answers I receive help me a lot.

The things that are taught at Coding Lab are also interesting and useful in real life, for example creating websites with Django as the backend server to process the database and retrieve the designs of the websites that are created using HTML.

Tell us more about ‘ZeroNET’, the app you made during your hackathon. What inspired you to make it, and what were the challenges you faced?

ZeroNET has a simple login and sign up system, and you can join a chatroom using a room code. I made it because I thought that login and sign up systems would be interesting to play with, and it would be cool to see how chatrooms function. After attending classes, I was able to implement more things into my website!

ZeroNET GIF — *A look at Chen-Yi’s ZeroNET website!*

As an independent learner, I’ve also been experimenting with Django and have even created side projects on my own after reading up on Google and watching YouTube tutorials.

*One of Chen-Yi’s amazing side projects, titled **Teleporter**.* The program is about a robot-boy who can shoot bullets which, on exploding, create “glowing” particles. There are also portals that he can create and teleport with when the right-click is utilised, hence the naming of “Teleporter”.

Teleporter is one of my projects that enabled me to practice adding more effects into my games made with Pygame. I had felt that my other games were pretty bland and did not really have good enough graphics, so you could say that this project was for me to feel better and see how much I have achieved so far with Python.

It is a pretty basic game that can still be improved, however I have decided to stop working on it at the moment.

Could you share with us why you think learning to code is so important?

Programmers are able to help the society by writing software for more advanced equipment, for example medical equipment, which would allow doctors to better assess a patient’s illness. Learning programming has helped me personally too as I’m able to write my own program to help me solve math sums. Another scenario where programming has helped me was when I wrote a virtual version of the board game that my project work group had come up with.

“Learning how to program is important as the world is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, so by learning about programming, one would have more job opportunities in the future, and would be able to do more in the future than others who do not know anything about programming.”

Do you see yourself continuing your passion of coding in the future?

Yes, I would probably take up a job in programming in the future. My current goal is to be selected to join the Computing Talent Programme offered to the Sec 3s and 4s.

Any advice for anyone who is learning how to code?

A word of advice would be to start exploring the programming language that you want to learn by looking at online tutorials and YouTube videos. If they think that that language is what they want to learn, they can then attend a course to learn more about the language.

Thanks for sharing your programming journey with us, Chen-Yi! 😃 We hope that your story inspires many other youths like you to take up coding and discover the endless possibilities that await them once they’ve acquired the skill!

Chen-Yi has been attending classes at Coding Lab since May 2020 – from passing a placement test to enter Python Perfect 2, and then afterwards advancing to Python 3, to Python Perfect 3 and now S207: Modelling & Simulations!

Learn more about Python, a global top 5 programming language, here. Once you’ve got the foundations, you can find yourself building practically anything from software, to apps, to websites. 😉

(Written by Zulaikha)

Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.

Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

A Peek Into Our Course: Advanced Computer Scientists (P21S) – Broad-Based Exposure to STEM Topics

Should my child DSA (Coding)? Coding Lab’s P300 Portfolio Preparation Programme for DSA

View Our Classes

Coding Lab Student Feature: Aarhan Salujah, 13, St Joseph’s Institution

Coding Lab Educator Feature: Ryan Wong

Fun Techtivities in August!

Congratulations to our 7 winners at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge 2022!

All About NFTs, Simplified

Join our LIVE online classes!

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
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Coding Lab Student Feature: Tan Jake Ian, 13, NUS High School of Math and Science

Meet 13-year-old Tan Jake Ian, who has always been passionate about technology. Like most boys his age, Jake loves playing computer games – but also creating them!

As one of Coding Lab’s first students back in 2016 who was personally mentored by our founder, Yong Ning Foo, we are proud to see the bubbly student grow into a teenager and achieve a place in his dream school. Hear what the confident and intelligent coder has to say about his DSA experience and coding journey (so far).

Photo of Jake, 13 years old, at his birthday celebration cutting his cake — *Jake celebrates his 13th birthday!*

Hi Jake, tell us a bit about yourself!

I am Jake, and I am 13 this year. I currently study at NUS High School of Math and Science, and I first came to Coding Lab when I was 8 years old.

“Be prepared that coding will challenge some of your puzzle-solving skills.”

How did your coding journey begin?

I initially started coding because my father thought it was an important and useful skill. After I started, I found that I agreed with him. And not only that, I began to really enjoy coding and wanted to continue! At first, I have to admit I thought that coding was easy. I even thought that developers of games such as Minecraft only had to join a few blocks together to make their game, just like I did in Scratch. Of course, I realised that this was not the case later on, but I still had a lot of fun doing the debugging challenges and questions in class!

Read and Watch Lianhe Zaobao Feature: Our Student, Jake, 9 Years Old shows his chops in <<A Little Somebody>> feature

It sounds like you have been coding for a while! What’s your favourite program so far?

It would likely be the Tower of Hanoi solver. It is a solver where you have to move disks of different sizes from one tower to another with restrictions. I like the clever usage of it, and how I can modify my program to have different amusing outputs.

(Press play below to run Jake’s Tower of Hanoi solver!)

“Coding should be fun, and even homework can be enjoyable too!”

Congratulations on entering your dream school! How do you feel about getting into NUS High School of Math and Science?

I feel really happy that I got into my top choice! I’m very excited for their science and tech programmes, since they are unique and different from that of other schools. I’m also looking forward to making new friends and having a great time!

What was your Direct School Admissions (DSA) experience like? Do you have any advice for others? I’m sure many other hopeful students are keen to know about it!

DSA was a whole new experience for me, especially the interview portion! I had never done an interview for admission into a school before, so I was very nervous – but excited to fulfil my dream! My teachers really helped by giving me some advice on what to prepare for, and my ability to code enabled me to stand out from others. I personally recommend watching some interview guide videos for those taking DSA, such as how to answer commonly asked questions such as “Tell me about yourself” or “What are your weaknesses?”

Jake when he was 8 years old, talking about his love for coding

Since you’ve been coding for some time now, what would you tell kids who are starting to code for the first time?

I would encourage them not to worry! Coding should be fun, and even homework can be enjoyable too! I like how my coding classes at Coding Lab are lighthearted and fun. The content is taught in a fun and engaging manner, but be prepared that coding will challenge some of your puzzle-solving skills.

What are your plans for the future?

I hope to be a doctor! While coding may not seem related to the medical profession at the moment, I think that there are plenty of opportunities for integrating programming into hospitals in the future. For example, Artificial Intelligence and robots could help to distribute medicine or diagnose patients with less serious symptoms, which would allow doctors to treat critical patients. I really hope to be a part of this Medtech (medical technology) industry someday!

Tan Jake Ian, 13, is a Year One student at NUS High School of Math and Science. He was one of Coding Lab’s first students when he was 8 years old, where he started with Scratch. He excelled and showed great potential, and has been in our Gifted Coders class ever since. We celebrate his achievements and look forward to what he will accomplish in future! We’ll be supporting you every step of the way, Jake!

(Written by Nicole Loo)