Fun Techtivities in July!

As we resume back to Phase 3 (heightened alert) from 14 June, we hope that you continue to stay safe and healthy while staying home as much as you can for the time being. 🏠

If you’re unsure of how you can spend meaningful time with your loved ones from the comfort of home, we’ve got a line-up of exciting techtivities just for you – check ‘em out below!

Fun Papercraft with Canon’s Creative Park

Canon has a wide range of FREE downloadable papercraft kits that are not just fun and exciting, but educational as well! You can assemble a variety of things like extraordinary crafts from NASA, locomotives and realistic animals – and by doing so, discover just how much tech has advanced for space research, gain deeper knowledge of the things around us and so much more.

It’s amazing to see how technology can bring us all together – access to such materials like this papercraft activity would be so fun to do with family and friends!

Details:
Includes: Downloadable cut-out worksheet and detailed worksheet of instructions
To find out more and access FREE activity sheets, click here.

Travelling around the World from Home

Tick off your bucket list with Google Earth or Google Street View and explore the places you’ve been wanting to visit from different angles! With millions of panoramic images to look at, you’ll get a wonderful virtual representation of the places you’ve been wanting to see.

Isn’t that cool? And this is all thanks to the awesome advancements in technology! In fact, panoramic images are taken using specialised software or equipment that captures images with horizontally elongated fields of view.

You can even go on to Explore.org, where there are up to 100 livestreams of really cool places – take the Northern Lights for example. All made readily available for your viewing pleasure. Simply click away!

Details:
Includes: Virtual representation of areas from multiple angles, livestreams, panoramic images and more
Explore the world through Google Earth, Google Street View or Explore.org.

Museum Hop Online

You can now not only visit and explore museums in Singapore, but also in other countries as well – all thanks to Google Arts and Culture! View digital exhibitions and go on virtual tours at famous places and galleries across the world.

Some examples include The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, and even the Borobudur in Indonesia!

They’ve even got a special segment called Google Arts and Culture Experiments created by artists and creative coders. It’s filled with digital games like puzzles, crosswords and even an art colouring book – so if you ever need a breather from work or study, you know where to go!

Check out: 5 Break Ideas for Fun and Wellness

Details:
Includes: High-definition artworks, 360° videos and more
To start museum-hopping, click here.

Watch Coding Bytes – Learn bite-sized Scratch

Have you been wanting to learn programming? Coding Lab’s latest video series Coding Bytes is the best way to learn if you’re looking for something easy and quick to digest! Follow our step-by-step tutorial videos with your little ones by your side and be introduced to the wonderful world of Scratch.

Our first video of the series – Mirror Mirror On The Wall is already up on our social media platforms, and the rest are coming your way real soon, so subscribe to our YouTube channel and do look out for them! 😉

Details:
Includes: Engaging, fun and quick tutorials on Scratch programming
Location: YouTube
Price: Free
Watch the series here.

Look Out for Learning Beautiful’s Webinars

Learning Beautiful understands the growing need to prepare young children for a future filled with technology and they’ve got beautiful material sets designed for children to playfully explore the basics of computer science.

Not only that, they also have a series of webinars that you can watch to broaden your understanding of computer science – they’ve touched on topics like Montessori at Home, Binary and Why it’s Important as well as All About Pixels!

They’ve got two more coming up soon, featuring our Co-Founder in Coding Meets Science for the month of July, so do keep an eye out for them to further your learning of this extraordinary subject – if you watch them live, you can even send in your questions and have them answered in real-time!

Coding Meets Science Learning Beautiful Webinar Banner

Details:
Includes: Hour-long webinars (recorded)
Location: Facebook Live
Price: Free
Watch them here.

Summer Holiday Coding Camps

As we resume Phase 3 (heightened alert), our physical classes are also BACK and we’ve got limited seats left. Quickly grab your spot – we are more than thrilled and can’t wait to welcome your child to our campuses!

We will still be offering online classes – the whole 360 package which includes LIVE conferences with tutors, video-on-demand, online questions and many more!

Rest assured that no matter which type of class you choose, we strive to ensure that your child gets the best learning experience possible – and be nurtured into future leaders of technology.

2021 - June Summer Holiday Coding Camps Banner

Details:
Date: 31 May to Mid August
Location: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)
Price: From $375.25
To find out more, click here.

If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our June #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities (a printable, colourful bucket list for the family too) that you can do with friends and family at home!

(Written by Zulaikha)

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Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Thinzar Htet

Thinzar is one of our beloved adjunct educators with a big heart. In this interview, we get to hear more about her non-conventional journey into the tech education industry.

Hi Thinzar, could you share a bit about yourself and how you embarked on this coding journey?

Team Photo - Thinzar, Educator — *Thinzar has been an educator with Coding Lab since 2019*

I am currently a Year 3 Sociology student at the National University of Singapore (NUS). I have always had an interest in the education sector and wanted to work with children, so Coding Lab was perfect for me!

Personally, I never had experience with coding before coming to Coding Lab so I had to pick it up along the way. During the interview, I was told about the training given to adjunct educators like myself. The moment I stepped in on my first day and realised how comprehensive the training given was (from personal tutorials by the founder, Yong Ning, to role-playing), my fears evaporated and I gained great confidence in teaching coding!

Coding is really fun to learn! But also, it is an important skill that trains important abilities like critical thinking and problem-solving.

That’s quite interesting that you have no coding background! Could you tell us more about how you came to teach coding, specifically?

Well, I was not particularly looking out for coding-related opportunities. I knew I was interested in teaching, so I researched and came across Coding Lab. I did not have experience in coding back then, but I have always liked math and solving problems (yes, even though I am currently studying social science)! Since coding is related to that, I thought I would enjoy learning and in turn, teaching what I have learnt.

Cool! So, what’s your teaching style like?

For me, I’ll first like to spark interest in my students. I ask them what kinds of cartoons, games or characters they like, then suggest some ideas that suit these interests. Often, I’ll get them to create projects that are similar to their favourite games or shows so that this will motivate them. However, I ensure that it’s not just copying what has been done. Instead, I encourage them to try out more things on their own beyond what is being taught. For instance, I challenge them to try adding features like making their Scratch sprites change colour even if we have not covered that in class. This way, it feels more like their achievement and it shows that they understand rather than just following what I do.

What’s even better is when my students ask whether I can be their teacher again for the next course that they plan to attend. That’s when I know that I have been an effective teacher to them!

What advice would you give to children who want to learn coding?

Thinzar in Junior Coders Programme — *Thinzar enriches the lives of coders – even Junior Coders!*

Coding is really fun to learn! But also, it is an important skill that trains important abilities like critical thinking and problem-solving. For example, you will have to think about what you want your program to do, then think about what to code to achieve that goal, and in what order they should code.

This kind of logical thinking is important, even outside of the class and even if you do not pursue computing in the future. You will always have something to take away, including skills that can be applied in other areas such as Mathematics and in your daily life too.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just try out new things because that’s how you (and I) learn!

Do you intend to continue teaching coding in the future?

I love teaching coding and interacting with my students! I believe in giving them a voice and our small class sizes allow that. Each student will have his/her own way to solve the problem, and I encourage them to show and tell their ideas to the class so they can learn from each other. Sometimes, they even come up with ideas that I didn’t think of! I look forward to my continued journey in understanding the younger generation and pushing them to explore, expend their curiosity and gain the confidence to speak up and share it with others.

What do you like to do outside the classroom?

Image of team with President Halimah Yacob — *President Halimah Yacob with (from left) Ms Low Tze Hui, Manager, Infocomm Media Development Authority and her son, Thinzar, President of Tiny Thinkers, Candice, Co-Founder of Coding Lab* at the *at the National Library Board’s kidsREAD 15th anniversary carnival*

I really enjoy putting my skills to impact others, whether its youth or kids. I was really grateful for the opportunity to be appointed the President of Tiny Thinkers under Coding Lab. The exposure was invaluable; I had the chance to work closely with the founders themselves (who were my mentors) and the tutors to curate a curriculum at low cost to impact preschoolers, to guiding a team of volunteer teachers in introducing preschoolers to coding fundamentals, to conducting briefings to a 100-strong audience at the National Library of Singapore. The skills I learnt while being in charge of Tiny Thinkers’ core team were invaluable as I used them in organising a virtual career fair under my university CCA.

Furthermore, Tiny Thinkers let me step out of my comfort zone as I had to interact with parents! This increased my self-confidence that allowed me to pursue organising large-scale events that included overseas participants. I am indeed thankful for the opportunities, mentorship and training I received at Coding Lab which helped shaped my mindset and allowed me to grow and gain lifelong skills along the way.

Finally, any words of wisdom for your students?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just try out new things because that’s how you (and I) learn!

And for your fellow educators?

I would say to be adaptable because while we are trained to teach a syllabus, we will have to modify it on the spot if the students cannot understand your initial way of teaching.

Thank you, Thinzar, for sharing with us about your coding education journey! We’re glad to have you with us on Saturday afternoons as you fruitfully translate your passion and talent for coding into the bright young minds of children ages 4 to 18.

Interested to join the Coding Lab team? Click here to find out more!

(Written by Nicole Loo)

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

Fun Techtivities in August!

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#CodingLabParenting: Get Fit in 5 Minutes A Day! – Break Ideas for Fun and Wellness

We know that taking care of the little ones while working from home can be reaaaal hectic – we’ve been there too. Hang in there, mums and dads! 💪 We’ve got your back with these quick and fun wellness activities that you can rope your kids in to do together.

I’m sure as parents we know that taking breaks has many benefits. That’s why our classes have always had breaks (and will continue to have them), whether they are physical or online classes. We want our students to rest their eyes and get that extra brain boost to be the best coder that they can be!

So, we thought we would share with you the wellness activities that the Coding Lab Team encourages our students to do during breaks. We have even included the recommended age groups so that you can choose the right one. Our suggestion? Perhaps one video a day with your children (and family) so that they can remember it in the long run!

1. Eye Workouts

We only have one pair of eyes to see the world around us. Pamper it with a little massage or simply relax it gently with these videos that we have compiled for you. Maintain optimal eye health with these easy eye exercises!

Bond with your tiny tots when you perform this simple eye massage to a catchy song together. Massage the face to relieve tension quickly and easily.

Recommended for: Ages 4 to 6 (Accompanied by parents)

Squeeze your eyes tight and then open wide! This soothes your eyes and facial muscles while you inhale and exhale deeply. It’s easy, effective and energising.

Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9

Need a quick screen break? Soothe your optic nerves and relax your eyes in less than 2 minutes. All you need are your palms, then you are good to go!

Recommended for: Ages 7 and above

Want more ideas on other eye exercises that you can do? Check out this 2-minute video that introduces 8 simple eye exercises you can do anywhere.

Recommended for: Ages 10 and above

These exercises aim to soothe your optic nerves and relax your eyes. This way, you can strengthen your eye muscles, increase your focus, ease eye movements, and stimulate your brain’s vision centre. Feeling creative? You can even design an eye workout with your favourite eye exercises.

2. Deskercise

Did you know that ‘deskercise’ (desk exercise) is a thing? All you need is a desk and chair for these moves. This is useful even if you are in the office or classroom – just do not start busting these moves while you are eating at the dining table! If you are feeling stiff, these two-minute workouts feature exercises that can all be done without leaving your chair.

Grab a chair and get moving with arm rolls and leg in-and-outs!

Ready for more deskercise? We have twists and knee lifts!

That very chair you are sitting on has some versatile functions. Try some ‘deskercise’ as the catchy music and bright colours encourage you to move along! There’s nothing like some quick yet effective movements to get active and loosen those tense muscles after sitting for a while.

Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9

Want something to add to your daily routine? Check out this 3-minute stretching plan that you can easily fit into your day!

Stretch your lower body with this 2-minute desk stretch, so you can feel your best.

Try out some 3-minute chair yoga stretches to relax your muscles and mind.

Feeling an ache in your neck and shoulders? Here are 3 quick stretches you can do to target those tight spots!

Stretch your neck, back and arm muscles without leaving your desk! These quick and easy tutorials of chair yoga stretches (yes, it’s an upgrade from the primary school version) relieve stiff, tight shoulders and neck at your desk. Instil good digital habits and get active during your short breaks!

Recommended for: Ages 10 and above

3. Look out of the window

It is no secret that our Parkway Parade campus boasts a great view of East Coast Park and the sea. It is where our students are naturally drawn to during their breaks, which works wonders for calming and relaxing their eyes. What are the sights and sounds around your home?

Play “I spy with my little eye” with this catchy song and challenge your child to spot things around them according to the alphabets.

Recommended for: Ages 4 to 7

Go through these simple exercises, naming the things that you see around you or outside of the window. It is a great way to spend your eye break!

Recommended for: Ages 8 and above

Look out of your window together to rest your eyes and absorb the lush greenery! Appreciate the nature around you and look far away, such as spotting planes and looking at different cloud shapes. This is great for the eyes, and it is also a therapeutic experience.

4. Take deep breaths

Breathe in… and breathe out. We have all heard these words. But how often do we practice them? Release the tension in those muscles with some deep breathing exercises!

Teach your little ones square breathing with some underwater friends. They will learn the handy technique and can visualise it when they need to relax.

Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9

Take a deep breath with one of the top mindfulness apps, Calm. They have a relaxing, 1-minute video as you go down the river. Got 3 minutes to spare instead?

Recommended for: Ages 10 and above

These videos impart deep breathing to help you relax and stay calm during times of stress, or even when feeling a little stiff. Oxygen helps to promote blood flow, flushing out the lactic acid that causes muscle soreness. You can also view this playlist of helpful short videos with picturesque views and guided breathing and meditation. Feel as good as new with some breathing exercises!

5. Replenish your energy with drinks and snacks

A boy sitting on a bean bag snacking — Our students snacking at our Parkway Parade campus.
*Note: Masks were only removed when eating, and social distancing measures were in place.*

We could all use a little perk-me-up at any time of the day. This is why we provide snacks to our students during breaks and encourage them to drink more water. Our Python Perfect students sometimes even bring their own tidbits to nibble on as they get in the zone and code on.

As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Choose the healthier options, such as the list of brain food we have compiled here. It is also as important that you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day. As an added benefit, getting to your snacks and drinks can also help you to rack up more steps. Research has found that this can even improve your creativity!

We hope that you had fun doing these activities together with your family, taking productive and fun wellness breaks, and making great memories working from home and together with your family!

Read: Getting Through MOE HBL

At Coding Lab, we do our best to instil these habits, which we hope will go a long way. If you see your children doing some exercises during their coding classes, don’t be shy and join in the fun. Let’s all work together to achieve better physical and mental wellbeing!