In today’s digital era, kids are immersed in technology with the Internet as a major influence. While it offers valuable learning and entertainment, it also poses risks. We as educators and parents watch over students during lessons, but unsupervised surfing can expose them to inappropriate content.
This raises parental concerns, prompting the need for tools to monitor and regulate online activity at home and in school. Fortunately, various antivirus and parental control programs exist to safeguard children from harmful content and online threats. In this article, we’ll chosen the best 3 antivirus software for ensuring your child’s online safety.
Norton
Norton enjoys a reputable standing in the antivirus industry, renowned for its resilient security solutions. The company provides two distinct options: (1) Norton 360 Deluxe (with complimentary access to Norton Family) and (2) Norton Family.
Norton 360 Deluxe is primarily designed to provide comprehensive device security, safeguarding devices against viruses, malware and cyber threats. Some of its features include: smart firewall, secure VPN, dark web monitoring, SafeCam for PC, etc. It prioritises securing your digital world.
Additionally, Norton 360 Deluxe includes a complimentary subscription to Norton Family, a powerful parental control application, making it one of the top antivirus choices for concerned parents. The various features of Norton Family include:
School Time Feature: Regulate online distractions by allowing you to specify which sites are permitted and which are blocked during school hours.
Location Supervision: Stay informed about your child’s location (for Android and iOS devices), with access to a 30-day history of their locations. Establish approved boundaries and receive alerts when your child goes beyond them.
Time Supervision: Help your children establish healthy usage habits by setting limits around their device usage. You can see when your children are online, set time limits, and schedule usage times.
Parental Supervision: Supervise web use and stay informed about the apps your child downloads.
Notably, the School Time scheduling feature allows you to restrict certain websites (such as YouTube and Roblox) during scheduled school hours without affecting educational access. This is ideal for home-based learning (such as our online Coding Lab classes)!
Pricing:
When considering the best option for your family’s online safety, Norton 360 Deluxe emerges as a robust choice. It not only provides comprehensive protection for your devices and data against online threats but also includes complimentary access to Norton Family for parental controls. As of September 2023, the subscription price stands at SGD 69 for the first year.
On the other hand, if you are seeking a more budget-friendly solution exclusively for monitoring your children’s online activities, Norton Family also offers a standalone subscription at SGD 30 per year. It’s a suitable choice for parents looking for reliable, standalone parental control solutions, although it does not include antivirus protection.
McAfee
McAfee is another well-known name in the cybersecurity industry, and its Total Protection package includes robust parental control features. Here’s what you can expect from McAfee Total Protection: identity protection, home network security, safe web browsing, performance optimisation, etc.
Additionally, McAfee Total Protection includes a complimentary subscription to a standalone parental control app called McAfee Safe Family, providing parents with a focused tool to monitor and manage their child’s online activities. It is important to note that this complimentary subscription only comes with the McAfee Total Protection family package, and not the individual package. The various features of the parental control application, McAfee Safe Family, include:
Comprehensive Activity Tracking: Allows for monitoring application and website usage.
Customizable Limits: McAfee Family offers pre-defined age-based rules that parents can customise according to their children’s specific needs.
Location Tracking: Locate their children on a live map. Receive automated notifications when their kids enter or leave familiar places, such as school.
Family Request Feature: To accommodate exceptions, McAfee Family allows kids to request extra app time or access to blocked apps or websites, promoting collaboration and communication within the family. [Note: Unfortunately, this feature does not work for IOS devices.]
Pricing:
McAfee Total Protection is available at a price of SGD 89.95 for the first year. This comprehensive security suite offers complimentary access to parental control solutions as well, when buying the family package. On the other hand, the standalone version, McAfee Safe Family, is more budget-friendly and priced at approximately SGD 58 per year.
In conclusion, as we navigate the digital world with our children, their online safety should be a top priority. The leading antivirus software options for 2023 provide a range of features for safeguarding and monitoring your child’s digital activities. In the ever-changing digital landscape, these solutions offer peace of mind and a safer online environment for your children. Select the one that suits your family’s needs and priorities to ensure a secure and enriching online experience. Nevertheless, it’s vital to educate children about online safety practices to empower them to navigate the digital world independently in the future.
With holidays starting soon, we have various #Techtivities to recommend so you and your family can have fun while learning about the wonders of technology at the same time! 😉
Let’s first hear some #TechNews!
Forbes reports on the transformative potential of the metaverse such as its ability to “enable next-generation classrooms, experiential virtual events, and hybrid workplaces, by bridging the gap between in-person and remote working”! 🏢💻
Every employee in the metaverse could have their own A.I powered assistance to “handle everything from scheduling meetings to taking notes to managing routine employee engagements”. 📓 Check out the other insights presented here!
Now that we’re learnt something new, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
Chaos Lab
Are your little ones the active type? Chaos Lab is just the place for you! Coming over all the way from Australia, this interactive playground is perfect for those looking for creativity, discovery and fun.
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Experience how your Augmented Reality (AR) sand sculptures comes to life with the help of motion sensor projectors! ⛱️
🧑💻 Unleash your creativity in the Neon UV room as you make works of art with graffiti!
Embark on an underwater adventure this holiday at the recent addition to S.E.A. Aquarium – VibranSEA! A perfect time for you and your family to be amazed by the beauty of the sea through art, science and education.
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Experience the mesmserising luminescence of aquatic life with the help of shifting spectrums of light and colours!
🧑💻 Explore the anatomy of marine creatures through X-Ray and Ultrasound technologies!
A fan of water and winter sports but not able to travel anywhere to experience them? Trifecta is the place for you! This new sports facility at Somerset allows you to dabble in the world of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding – all in the heat of Singapore.
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 As you snowboard, transport yourself to the snowy hills of Japan or Switzerland while in Singapore, all done with the help of Virtual Reality (VR)!
🧑💻 From beginners to the initiated, get your boards ready as the simulators at Trifecta are created to deal with any experience level!
Get ready to be transported into an exciting adventure in our upcoming Year-End Holiday Camps! 🚀⛵️ From crafting games to designing interactive mobile apps, our classes are designed to turn screen time into a chance to learn, innovate, and have tons of fun! 😉
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Ages 5-6: Give your child the best head start into the world of Code! Dive into hands-on fun with robots, games, and physics, tailored for little learners. 🤖👾
🧑💻 Ages 7-9: Our young minds explore, create, and innovate through the exciting realm of coding adventures in our classes, diving into topics such as Cognitive AI, creating their own songs and animations, or even a head start into Science! 🎬🎼🧑🔬
🧑💻 Ages 10-12: Kickstart and elevate their coding skills where our young innovators transform their ideas into reality through creating their unique mobile apps and projects, fostering creativity and tech mastery! 📱💻
🧑💻 Ages 13-18: Empower your child with the power of code, hone their skills and unleash their maximum potential as they dive into the world of limitless possibilities! 🌍🏆
Celebrate a season of learning and fun today with us here at Coding Lab! Give your child the gift of knowledge and creativity this upcoming holidays. 💚
Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉
*When stacked with Early Bird Discount
Details:
When: 20 November – 29 December 2023
Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)
Ending off with a fun #TechFact, did you know that Duolingo was launched in 2011, allowing users to learn languages for free? Today, Duolingo is the top way to learn a language with more than 500 million learners worldwide! (Source)
If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our October #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!
(Written by Thinzar)
Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding
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Today, smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular among children in Singapore, and for good reason! They give us the unparalleled ease and convenience of ensuring our children’s safety. A smartwatch becomes an even more optimal choice since some schools do not allow younger students to have phones.
As we often see such smartwatches on our students’ wrists and witness firsthand the benefits that they provide, we decided to do some research and compiled a list of 5 Best Smartwatches for Kids in Singapore!
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a stylish and kid-friendly activity tracker that helps to make fitness and exercise fun for the entire family! With virtual badges and an animated clock-face, it will help to inculcate healthy habits by encouraging your child to participate in fun-filled activities! Children can even bring their Fitbit along to the beach or even into the swimming pool, as the Ace 3 is water resistant to 50m!
At night, you can schedule bedtime reminders using your Fitbit App, and the Ace 3 can also function as a sleep tracking device to let you know if your child is getting adequate sleep. Most importantly, it is designed with children in mind and has an adjustable clasp, providing for a comfortable and secure fit. Your child will have no problems navigating its beautiful touchscreen and clock face displays!
Pros:
All-Day Activity Tracking
Swimproof
Up to 8 Days of Battery
Customisable with Bands and Accessories
Cons:
Touchscreen has a reduced number of features compared to adult’s fitness band
Image of Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 (Image Credit: Garmin)
The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 is a smart watch designed especially for your children. With its swim-friendly and durable design, the Vivofit Jr. 3 is built to withstand the rough and tumble of both daily activities and adventurous holiday trips. We also love its colourful display and themed designs, with options like Star Wars, Iron Man and Marvel Super Heroes!
Furthermore, it comes with a colourful parent-controlled app that can help inspire your child to stay active through educational discovery and travel! The wide range of features and capabilities are sure to be incredibly useful for parents, from GPS tracking, activity tracking, and chore data tracker to help you manage your little ones!
Image of My First Fone R1S (Image Credit: Kiddy Palace)
Created by a Singapore-based and homegrown technology brand for children, “My First Fone R1S” is a creative blend between a smart watch and a phone! Not only does it include the features of a smartwatch like advanced GPS tracking capabilities, it also incorporates features of a smartphone! For instance, it enables young children to connect seamlessly with their family and friends through voice calls and video calls, all under the safe supervision of their parents!
As parents ourselves, we especially appreciate that myFirst has taken the safety and wellbeing of children into consideration. The R1S Watch can be paired with the myFirstFone App on a parent’s phone, and allows parents to set a designated safety zone for their child through the Geo-Fencing Area Alert technology, which will alert the parent’s phone if the designated area is breached! The smart watch also comes with a one-touch SOS button for children to alert their parents in the event of an emergency. Whether your child might be off playing at the playground in your neighbourhood, or embarking on their very first field trip, the myFirst Fone R1S Smart Watch can give you peace of mind knowing that you can stay in touch with your child at all times.
Pros:
Heart Rate Monitoring
Chat with Parents and Friends using Emojis or Preset Texts
Image of Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch (Image Credit: What Katy Said)
Do you have a child that loves Coding Lab’s educational robotics classes, like our Young Computer Scientists Robotics Class, or our Junior Coders Programme with Photon the robot? Then this watch might just be the perfect one for your child! Gift them a thrilling educational toy for robotics with the Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch, and watch them revel in excitement over its moving robot arms and legs, fun sound effects and over 100 different expressions!
This watch also features a kid-friendly touchscreen, augmented reality games, and 2 built-in cameras for your little techie to film videos, take selfies and edit photographs! What’s more, this watch can be used anytime, anywhere, as it can be easily attached to their clothes using its clip, or even set on a table top with its extra snazzy display stand!
Pros:
Comes to Life before Your Eyes
Educational and fun games to keep your child entertained
Image of Apple Watch SE (With Family Set Up) (Image Credit: EFTM)
With features like FaceTime audio calls, a calendar app for your child to customise their schedule, and Apple music that they can use to play their favourite song, the Apple Watch SE brings you and your child a personalised experience unlike any other smart watch! It even features “Schooltime” and “Downtime” modes that can be automatically set to ensure that your child is not disturbed in school!
It is the perfect wearable technology to introduce to older children that might not yet be ready for a smartphone, or are looking for an accessory to complement their smartphone! With the Family Setup, parents have the freedom to control access to personal data, and for your child to contact you as an emergency contact.
Pros:
Available in 3 colours — Midnight, Starlight and Silver
Stay active and motivated with its workout app
Mindfulness app to help you reduce everyday stress
Discover tens of thousands of apps from the App Store
Cons:
Does not have always-on screen
Only compatible with an iPhone
Some Singapore MOE schools may not allow Apple Watches
Ultimately, the decision on which smartwatch is the best for your child may depend on a variety of factors, like their age, maturity and level of responsibility. Smart watches can be very impactful educational and parenting tools to help get your child acquainted with technology in this digital age. They can be especially beneficial for families that enjoy the convenience of being able to check in with their children easily and regularly.
The Coding Lab Team has chosen these 5 smart watches as they have features that are specifically tailored for parents and children in mind. As a coding school, we care for our students and are always striving to provide them with the best – both inside and outside of our classrooms!
We invited 2 passionate brothers, Lucas and Louis Tang, who first began their coding journey with us 4 years ago when they were 9 and 6 years old respectively. They have since accelerated across our S100 Python for teens, and are already pursuing our S200 Electives course at the ages of 12 and 10. Lucas will also be commencing his studies at Hwa Chong Institution in 2023.
Let’s hear from them regarding their experience so far!
Click to watch the video version of our interview with Louis and Lucas Tang! 👆
What do you love about coding? What about it keeps you going?
Lucas: I enjoy it because it is satisfying! It is like maths. Because I love maths, that is why coding is fun! Once you solve a problem, it gives you this satisfying feeling, and I am quite enthusiastic about this. I feel like somehow, when I have questions in the first lesson, somehow the second lesson will answer it!
The teacher will help us recall what we learned the previous time so that we can remember what we have learned in the previous lesson, and she will first address any question we may have about the last lesson.
“Coding is fun and challenging! Firstly, coding is fun because when I test my project after working very hard on it, I find that I feel relieved! I feel that it is fun playing with the game that I have created.“
– Louis Tang
Meet Louis, who enjoyed learning about the intersections of Mathematics and Coding in our Python 2 class!
Louis: Coding is fun and challenging! Firstly, coding is fun because when I test my project after working very hard on it, I find that I feel relieved! I feel that it is fun playing with the game that I have created.
I also feel that it is actually challenging as sometimes I might not know the topics being taught, as I am usually one of the younger ones in the class, so I might not know much of the maths! For example, for some of the quadratic equations, I do not know them. So I can only rely on the formulas as I do not fully understand them. The teacher will help me with the tough maths challenges, as I am weaker in these areas, and I didn’t know how to create a plot in Python!
What do your friends and family say when they hear that you are a coder?
Lucas: Coding really revolves around Math. Once I solve a problem, I feel accomplished, and I am quite enthusiastic about this. For both Coding and Math, I really need to be very familiar with formulas. The best part is that once you solve a question, it feels satisfying!
Louis: I think coding is very fun and figuring out how to do the programs help me relieve stress! Sometimes the Math needed for programs can be challenging and I have not yet learned them at school as I’m only in P4. For example, quadratic equations – The teacher will help me with these tough Math challenges in class and it took me 3 days to understand and complete the project!
What is your favourite project that you have worked on in Coding Lab?
Lucas: My favourite project was mental sums, it was a task where you have to make an unlimited number of questions using the random module, where you can create simple mental sums!
I like to use it as sometimes when I feel that my mind is unproductive, I will just use the programme for a while to enhance my reaction time and awaken my brain! It was a Coursemology project, so I had to do it to earn experience points to progress to the next level.
Here is how Lucas’ Mental Math game looks like! Why don’t you give it a try? 😉
Louis: My favourite project is the phonebook. You can add someone’s name and then their contact. You also can update it, delete it, and you also can view it. So an example is that when you run it, it can act like WhatsApp, you can search for someone’s name and find their contacts easily by just typing their name! I find it interesting but challenging, as it requires many codes, but it is fun to play with!
This is Louis’ favourite Phonebook program, which he learnt in our Python 2 classes! 😀
“Lucas is an independent student who displays great problem solving skills. He has a strong foundation in coding and is able to grasp new concepts quickly. It is evident when he is attempting challenges in class where he uses and applies concepts in the right way, even adding his own customisations to further improve the program.“
– Educator Thinzar
What would you say to someone who is new to coding? Is there any advice you would like to share with them?
Lucas: Do not memorise all the modules! Trust me, it uses unnecessary brain power. If you memorise all the functions, you will not be putting all your energy into solving the problem! You will just be trying to memorise the modules and how to use them. You can use a cheat sheet to solve the problems instead!
Coding, like maths, requires formulas, like modules. It feels so good every time you complete one assignment. You will also get to exercise your brain!
Louis: I would tell them to join (Coding Lab), as personally, coding is not very extremely hard. They might not know some of the topics, but the teacher will go through all of the topics clearly, and help them understand more. I think coding is very fun and a way to relieve stress!
If the project is very hard, just do not give up as eventually, you can solve it. For example, for the quadratic equation, it took me 3 days to finally understand it and complete the project!
“Because I love maths, that is why coding is fun! Coding really revolves around maths. For both of them, you really need formulas. For example, for coding, you need to use functions. Other than functions, you can use modules also. In maths, it is called formulas too. The best part is that once you solve a question, it feels satisfying!“
– Lucas Tang
Lucas loves attending his Coding Lab classes with Educator Thinzar, and has progressed wonderfully under her supportive guidance.
Just a few more questions! Is there anything you would like to say to Educator Thinzar?
Lucas: I like your class because you always joke around and you help us when we have any questions. Thank you for making coding so fun!
Is coding something you want to do in the future?
Louis: Yes. Coding is something that I want to do in the future, as my dream job is to be a programmer! I want to program robots to help me do my work!
This is as I am quite lazy and I don’t want to do my work on my own! Usually, today I have HBL as it’s PSLE, so I just woke up at 6.30 in the morning, as my brother also wakes up to go to his PSLE. I then finish all my work in the morning, so that in the afternoon I can just slouch back.
What is the feeling that you get when you have solved a code?
Louis: Well, I feel very relieved and excited! I also feel happy as I feel accomplished after I’ve finished my code.
I feel happy and excited, because I want to test out the code. I like to test out the code as it’s very fun and exciting, and usually after doing a large volume of work, some parts might not work, but I really wanna test it to make sure it works.
“Louis is a bright student who always asks additional questions to understand concepts in-depth. I really appreciate his questions as it shows his keenness for learning and helps to equip him with a strong foundation.
– Educator Thinzar
Thank you Lucas and Louis for sharing your personal stories with us, and for the invaluable advice that you have given to new coders that are just starting out! 😄
We are incredibly impressed by your enthusiasm for the intricacies of coding, and are heartened to have witnessed your growth in Coding Lab under the caring guidance of our nurturing Educators!
Many of our students have overcome various challenges, advanced far beyond their own expectations, and forged their own path in programming, and we are so proud of them. Our #CodingLabStudents series features some of our exceptional and resilient students, and aims to put a spotlight on their dreams, goals and achievements! 🌱
Find your own starting point to this journey here with us by browsing our course catalogue today!
Meet our Coding Lab student, Isaac Khong – Platinum Award winner (the highest honour, awarded to the top 1.5% of participants) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022.
“Coding has always been my favourite hobby which I enjoyed during my free time. I am very delighted to have the unique opportunity to expand into the AI field, which I can see a lot of interesting developments in the near future like ChatGPT! “
Hello again, Isaac! Congratulations on winning the Platinum Award at the HCIC! How do you feel about your achievement?
Meet Isaac Khong, who has been with us at Coding Lab since a young age of 7!
I feel honoured yet humble to have received the Platinum Award at the HCIC. Coding has always been my favourite hobby which I enjoyed during my free time and winning a Platinum Award in a coding competition held across Primary schools in Singapore gave me the recognition for my efforts put into learning and practising coding.
I would like to thank my parents, teachers and friends for supporting me throughout this exciting journey!
How was your HCIC experience?
My HCIC experience was very fulfilling. The questions were challenging and it requires critical and creative thinking skills. Preparation for the HCIC was manageable. I enjoyed the opportunity to think-out-of-the box which gave me a lot of satisfaction.
What are you coding right now? Are there any exciting future coding projects or dream project that you want to mention?
I am coding a program to automate web browsing using Python’s selenium module. The computer will then be able to go through many web pages within a short duration and interact with the website. This saves time for the user.
“Isaac is a very responsible and independent student who has shown great understanding in programming. He displays self discipline and concentration, and is very enthusiastic towards learning. 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, which is really commendable!“
– Educator Edmund
Which school do you study at currently? How is adapting to life in Secondary school so far?
I am currently a student at Hwa Chong Institution. I applied for DSA through coding and I received two confirmed offers from Dunman High and River Valley High and, initially, a waitlist offer from Hwa Chong Institution.
Transitioning from Primary to Secondary school, the workload has increased significantly and yet there are many opportunities for independent work and collaborative projects, which I really enjoyed. I am very delighted to be admitted into HCI, as it offers me the unique opportunity to expand into the AI field, which I can see a lot of interesting developments in the near future like ChatGPT!
Isaac has advanced from a young budding coder to an advanced, brilliant programmer at the level of 13-18 years old, with several competition wins under his belt!
What do your friends or family say when they know that you can code?
I have taken a lot of inspiration from my dad whom I used to watch him code when I was a young. I got my first computer in Primary One and was learning Scratch. My sister who was two years younger was amazed at how one can program a computer. She is now on her path to be a young programmer at Coding Lab as well!
It was great catching up with Isaac again in this student feature and hearing updates on his progress in his coding journey! We are glad to have played a role in his growth over the years as well as his DSA journey. 😊
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 Isaac’s journey and aspirations will motivate you to consider investing in your child’s education in coding!
Isaac Khong started attending P101 Scratch 1 class at Coding Lab when he was barely 7 years of age and advanced his way to our S200 Electives by the time he was 12. He was awarded the Platinum Award (the highest honour) at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022. He is 13 years old as of 2023 and is attending Hwa Chong Institution.
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!
Our nation’s birthday is coming up, and it is a time that our family can celebrate and have fun! We have some techtivities lined up for you, so the whole family can have fun and learn about the wonder of technology at the same time. 😄
Let’s first hear some #TechNews!
With over 180 different types of mosquito species in Singapore, it is challenging to eradicate disease-spreading mosquitoes. 🦟 However, with the power of A.I, GovTech has successfully created a model that could “not only correctly classify species from different groups, but also differentiate seemingly lookalike species from the same group”! 👨💻 Read more about it here!
Now that we’re all set, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
Singapore Night Festival 2023
The annual Singapore Night Festival is back at Bras Basah.Bugis Precinct! Showcasing Singapore’s growth from a small port city to a modern metropolis, there are various installations, unique experiential activities, and for the first time, a family zone with activities for children hosted by the Children’s Museum Singapore. 🥳
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 See Augmented Reality (AR) in action as you whip out your phone to explore the secrets behind installations like GIIFEST III: Imperfect Compilation! 🤳
🧑💻 Experience the power of projection mapping as you view various light installations projected onto different features like buildings and even the trees! 🌴
🧑💻 Immerse your senses in lights, colours and sounds carefully timed and programmed to work beautifully in harmony! 🎶
Want to discover the world right in the heart of our top-ranked airport? Explore the exciting virtual world of Changi Airport through 10 different zones at Changi Experience Studio @ JEWEL. Experience the wonder of technology as you learn more about aviation and how the airport operates! ✈️
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Want to be a pilot? Take flight through the Aeroviation Flight Simulator while staying planted on the ground! 🧑✈️
🧑💻 Be the fastest in the virtual race at the Amazing Runway as it senses your peddling speed! 🚲
🧑💻 How to be a successful airport? Play games at the Backstage zone as you control the running of the airport through various sections like baggage control, immigration and plane parking with the screen! 🛫🛬
Details:
When: Permanent
Where: JEWEL Changi Airport
Price: From $12.75 (with current promotions as of 28 July 2023)
Is your little one interested in the seas? Let them explore the Singapore Navy Museum, where they can learn about how the Singapore Navy has become the modern force it has today!
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Learn interesting facts through interactive boards that will activate with your actions! 😄
🧑💻 Interested to try out your own gun? A huge gun display has been set up where your little ones can sit and move the gun! 🔫
🧑💻 Want to thank our Singapore Navy for what they have done? Simply hover your hand over the interactive board and it will send a message through Sensing Technology! 🤗
Details:
When: Permanent
Where: 112 Tanah Merah Coast Road
Price: Free (for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents – $8 for tourists and foreigners)
Calling all young tech enthusiasts, this is your time to shine! 🌟 In our September Holiday Coding Camps, join us for an unforgettable experience and challenge yourself to create your best project ever! Jump into game development and code a game with features of your choice, or create innovative mobile apps from scratch – Unleash your creativity and gain lifelong skills to cherish for life! 😎
What tech is here? 🤔
🧑💻 Ages 5-6: Discover the fun with your new robot friend as you bring him on adventures and conquer challenges together.
🧑💻 Ages 7-9: Done Scratch in school? We go beyond that! Expand your coding abilities and discover all that you can create – Add exciting features into your games such as creating time challenges, tracking your high scores, and many more! 👾
🧑💻 Ages 10-12:Create your very own version of your favourite mobile apps in our App Inventor classes and learn all about App Design and User Interface! Join us in our Python Junior classes and create ingenious programs with fun challenges as you go along! 📱💻
🧑💻 Ages 13-18: Get the best headstart in coding in our extensive curriculum for teens! Dive into the top 5 global programming platform, Python, and pick up key coding concepts with challenges relevant in today’s society. 🌎
Take your pick, because whatever your choice is, we’re sure your child will have loads of fun in our classes! 😎 💚
With so many options for both beginners and the initiated, and various physical and online options, there’s definitely a class suitable for everyone! Sign up here or feel free to drop us an email, call us or WhatsApp us to get in touch. 😊
Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉
*When stacked with Early Bird Discount
Details:
When: 4 to 8 September 2023
Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)
To wrap up our #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, here is a fun #TechFact! Did you know that the first ever computer virus, Creeper, was created in 1971? When a computer catches the virus, the screen displays the message “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!”
However, unlike the viruses and malware today, Creeper was not sent out with malicious intent, it was created for experimental purposes, to show that it was possible to create a self-duplicating program! (Source)
If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our July #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!
(Written by Thinzar)
Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding
We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.
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Here at Coding Lab, we aim to nurture future leaders in technology and it is always exciting to celebrate our fantastic students’ achievements. Today, we have Tan Zheng Kai, 12, with us, who has done us proud by achieving a Gold Award at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2022!
His coding journey began when he was 10 years old, so it is even more amazing to see him progress so much and clinch an award in this highly reputable competition in just 2 years! Let us now hear from Zheng Kai directly about his coding journey.
“Coding is an important skillset to have as we are setting foot into a new era. As we enter a new era, technology will increasingly become part of our daily lives. From our phones to electronic smartwatches, coding will be used everywhere, so it will definitely be a skillset that you can benefit a lot from.“
Here is Zheng Kai, an avid sci-fi fan, gamer, and coder!
Hi Zheng Kai, tell us about yourself! What do you like to do in your free time?
During my free time, I indulge myself in many activities. For instance, I love to play video games. Occasionally, I also watch videos related to video games and coding. My favourite genre of books is sci-fiction.
Congratulations on winning the Gold Award at the HCIC! How do you feel about your achievement?
I am thankful for having managed to clinch this award but I feel that I must continue to work hard and try to improve my skills further. There is always room for improvement after all.
How was your HCIC experience? What have you learnt? What was the best part of it?
I feel that the experience was a very educational one as I learnt a lot about robotics. Before that, I was focusing more on python and did not get a lot of practise on it. However, in the process of preparing for the competition, I learnt how to familiarise with this unknown topic and it really widened my horizons!
Once he got started, there was no looking back! Zheng Kai explored his interest in programming when he was 10 and is now a driven and brilliant coder with competition wins under his belt!
How did you first get started with coding?
I first started with coding when I was 10 years old. It was the December holidays when I came across a coding youtuber. He really inspired me and my dad decided to sign me up for a python crash course. That was the start of my love for coding. After sparking my interest, I then decided to pick up programming as a skill.
What do you like about coding? How has coding made a difference in your life?
There are many different points that I like about coding. For a start, it is a really good way to let your hair down after a day of hectic studying. Furthermore, coding is also an important skillset to have as we are setting foot into a new era.
What are some difficulties that you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome it?
To be honest, the hardest part about programming is the start. Everything seems foreign to you and you do not know what to do and where to start. Thankfully, my tutors were very organised and managed to keep me on the right track.
How did you find your coding lessons?
I really enjoy my lessons! Special thanks to my tutor Teacher Edmund, who was always very supportive and helpful. His extensive knowledge of coding was also very useful in pointing me in the right direction.
“Zheng Kai is a responsible student who takes charge of his own learning. He always tries his best to attempt the questions given before seeking help. He has built up a strong and stable foundation in coding which gives him an edge in tackle challenging questions.“
– Educator Edmund
Why do you think learning to code is so important?
As we enter a new era, technology will become more ubiquitous in our daily lives. From our phones, to electronic smartwatches, coding will be used everywhere. Hence, this will definitely be a skillset in which you can benefit a lot from.
What are you coding right now? Any exciting future coding projects or dream project that you want to mention?
Zheng Kai hopes that everyone will not give up on coding just because it may seem difficult. Then, you will be able to make amazing creations that can help society!
Currently, I am trying to program a 2D horror game with my friends but it is still work in progress and I hope to continue it in the future when I get to know more about 3D game developing.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up, I either want to be a computer developer or a programmer as I wish to do something which I enjoy doing while helping the society.
Do you have any advice for young people like you who are learning to code?
My only advice is just to work hard and not give up easily. If you have a good attitude, anything is possible!
Thank you, Zheng Kai, for sharing with us how your coding journey has impacted your life, as well as your words of wisdom for aspiring coders! We hope that Zheng Kai’s story has inspired you to kickstart your child’s interest in coding!
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!
With a degree in Data Science and Business Analytics, Shannon is a bubbly and charming educator with the brains to match! Get to know the personality behind the brains and her experience as a Coding Lab educator! 😊
What are some of your passions and hobbies outside of the classroom?
Our gifted educator, Shannon Goh!
I love to bake and solve Sudoku puzzles! As someone whose favourite subject is Mathematics, most of my hobbies revolve around calculations or numbers. I also have a pet dog. Playing with my dog after a day of work makes me relaxed and refreshed!
What inspired you to learn coding?
With the rise in demand for the skill of coding, I thought it would be useful to learn coding as well as it would be a good skill to hone, regardless of whether I would be using it in my job. Moreover, Math has always been my favourite (and coincidentally the best) subject in school. Hence, I pursued the Data Science and Business Analytics degree that allowed me to do both Math and Coding!
How did you get started with Coding? Was it difficult and did you have guidance?
I started out by using the R programming language in university when studying for my Data Science and Business Analytics degree. It was difficult at first as I did not have any prior experience with programming, and the module that I took started straight away with machine learning using R. To help me understand programming better, I relied on resources like Google and videos.
Having experienced working with data structures and data visualization, why do you think they are important skill sets for children to learn and develop?
Data is everywhere. Data alone does not mean or show much, but organize data in a graph or chart and it would show trends, patterns, outliers. Just like the number of Covid-19 cases, looking at the number per day on its own would not mean much, but put a year’s worth of numbers in a graph and it would show trends, patterns and can even be used to predict when the next peak might be! Hence, it is important to learn how to present data in a visual context and how to analyze the data and tell a story. And this should be done as early as possible! Just like how the Coding Lab curriculum teaches 10-12 years how to plot graphs and pie charts using Python in the ACS Python Math research area.
When did you first realize or what was the moment that made you realize you would like to become an Educator?
Back in secondary school, I would coach my friends on their schoolwork. My friends found me patient, and I got that sense of satisfaction when they understood the question/answer after my explanation. That was when I realized I love to teach!
How long have you been at Coding Lab and what classes do you teach at Coding Lab?
Shannon giving her utmost attention to her students!
As of July 2022, I have been with Coding Lab for 7 months! I teach coding to a wide group of students who range from ages from 7-18. For 7-9 years olds, I teach Scratch, a visual programming language with a friendly, colourful drag-and-drop interface, that allows the younger learners to create their own projects and make programming more intuitive. For 10-12 years olds, I teach App Inventor, which contains an intuitive visual drag-and-drop interface that allows students to create their very own mobile apps. I also teach Python Junior for this age range, where students combine math and Python together to solve math questions using Python! For 13-18 years olds, I teach Python, a language suitable for beginners, and how to use Python to solve math questions!
Why do you think it’s important to teach coding to the next generation?
Coding is becoming an important skill to have, and it is good to start learning as early as possible. Do not be afraid to make mistakes! You are bound to face errors as you code, do not lose hope and give up. Seek help from someone else or search up how to rectify the error online. Make sure to start and fully understand your basics as well.
Basics are normally the boring and “dry” part, but having a full knowledge of the basics would help you in understanding as you progress further!
What’s the best part about being a teacher?
The best part about being a teacher is watching my students leave every class having enjoyed the lesson, and cannot wait for the next lesson to learn more! Some students would even thank me for teaching them and ask me this question when they are about to advance up to the next course: “Will you be the one teaching me again? Please say yes.” This gives me an affirmation to my teaching and makes me want to further improve. It makes my day as well! Watching students get that “Eureka!” moment after understanding my explanation or my hints always gives me a sense of satisfaction. It shows that the student fully understands the concept or question, and has gained knowledge in one small area. And I am a part of it! That thought keeps me going even until now.
What have you learned from your previous experiences in school and work that you feel, continue to be relevant in your current role as an educator at Coding Lab?
“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
Our lovely Shannon with her students who have proudly completed their class!
This quote has been my teaching philosophy in my previous work experiences, and continues to be in my current role. For example, using “big” words may make a teacher look professional and profound in his/her own knowledge, but it would defeat the purpose of teaching a class if the students do not understand! Hence, using the quote, I always remind myself to teach/explain in a way that students can understand.
How do you normally conduct your classes?
Classes would start with me introducing myself and the class rules if it’s the first lesson, or starting with a recap for the other lessons. Then, it would be explaining the concepts that we would be learning for the lesson and it would lead to me asking the questions: “Can understand? So far so good? Can we move on?” If all is good, then we would proceed to try by ourselves first before I go through the sample code. The class will end after a few QnA if needed, and it’s “see you next lesson”!
Do you have any memorable stories from your classes that you would like to share?
Many classes are memorable to me for different reasons!
One reason would be when I can bond with the students through a similar topic. Once, a student and I showed each other pictures of our own pet dogs, and the student asked if mine was a fake toy dog, which he then quickly clarified that it was a compliment as my dog looked as pretty as a toy dog, which I appreciated a lot! Another class would be my current Sunday ACS class, where the students and I found a common topic to talk about while resting our eyes during eye break: Peppa Pig.
Another memorable story was a girl in one of my previous Python 1 classes. She may not be the best student in terms of coding, but she is definitely one of the most hardworking. She was even willing to have a Zoom meeting with me at 10pm just so that she could clarify her questions! I think students who put in effort to learn are the most memorable to me.
Do you have any advice for others who may be looking to transition into being an Educator?
Put yourself in the shoes of your students and teach in a way they can understand. Most importantly, enjoy what you are teaching and the students will enjoy what they are learning too! Have fun!
Thank you for your time Shannon! We love your enthusiasm for teaching and we know your students feel it too! We look forward to dropping in on your classes as you continue to inspire your students in their work.
(Written by Lech)
Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding
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Once again, we’re glad for the opportunity to impart Python programming and Data Analytics to 40 fresh talents from the OCBC Graduate Talent Programme!
Our cheery participants from OCBC Bank who attended our Data Analytics Training Workshop in 2023!
The 40 participants from different departments of the bank ranging from HR and Marketing to IT worked in teams. Regardless of whether they had a background in programming, all were able to utilise their newfound Data Analytics skills for their business cases presentation at the end of the workshop.
Our educators, Stephanie and Hovan (left to right), also had lots of fun coaching the young talents and were enthused by their dedication during the 3-day workshop in 2023!
We know that the skills that they learnt will certainly come in handy in their careers and lives as we move towards a more digitalised society. We look forward to seeing these young talents shine in their fields of work!
We’re proud to have also partnered with IMDA and play a supporting role in Singapore’s efforts towards becoming a Smart Nation! Read more here.
Here at Coding Lab, we nurture future leaders in technology. Our teens (Ages 13-18) build a solid foundation in Python, and then move on to Electives such as Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Game Development, where they move on to craft real-world solutions, preparing them for the future.
Singapore is increasingly embracing coding and programming in recent years, with the government pushing for a #SmartNation where the society, economy and government will become increasingly digitalised.
We are officially the world’s smartest city for 3 years in a row. (2021 Study by the Institute of Management Development (IMD) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD))
The Singapore government has already achieved 99% digitalisation of government services back in 2021!
As of 2021, 99% of Singapore government services are digital from end to end, and Singapore is ranked the world’s smartest city for the third year running (Source).
The government also aims to make the entire society digitally inclusive and gain basic coding and computational thinking skills. One of these efforts includes students needing to complete 10 hours of compulsory coding in primary school. Schools offering DSA in programming are also increasing in number (Full list: MOE)
Understandably, interest in learning to code has increased more than five-fold over the past 3 years and parents are looking for good quality courses for their child. How does this translate to our work with students? Here at Coding Lab, we’re parents too. And we know what we want not only for our own kids, but for every single child that steps through our glass doors.
“I started Coding Lab when my son was born. Having come from the corporate sector, I knew that programming was a key skill that I wanted my kids to pick up. My wife and I took the plunge and started Coding Lab back then. She calls me obsessive when I hold our tutors to the high standards of teaching I went through at MIT, but then again she’s very particular about the learning environment and the human touch. It’s not easy to please both of us, but we’d like to think that our unwavering dedication to the highest standards in all areas ensure we provide the best learning experience for all of our students.
When we started, it was just the 2 of us. Today, we are proud to have a trusted team who share our passion to groom tomorrow’s leaders in technology, and uphold our vision for uncompromising standards.”
Yong Ning Foo, Founder and Educator, Coding Lab
Here are 5 key factors we think a great coding school must have:-
1. Comprehensive curriculum that drives results
With many programming languages out there and rapidly developing technology, the school’s curriculum should be comprehensive and up-to-date. It should prepare students with a strong foundation in programming as well as hands-on experience working on projects with real world applications, so that they can continue to benefit outside of the classroom.
Our students are trained to go in-depth into a programming language. 2 outstanding examples include Aidan, (who started coding at the age of 7) obtained the Platinum Award (Highest Honour for top 1.5% of participants) for HCIC 2022, and Evan, who achieved the Gold Award.
Some centres allow their students to flit from one platform to the other. This means that students spend the bulk of their time getting accustomed to various platforms in a superficial fashion. Often, this is due to lack of expertise in the subject area, as it requires highly trained professionals to teach tough topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Data Analytics to teens or young children.
For example, our Ages 7-9 curriculum takes students through close to 180 hours of learning, using largely the Scratch platform, but allowing our students to deep dive into various areas of programming from Cognitive AI to Mathematical Modelling. This helps ensure students build up a strong foundation in programming, and most importantly know how to apply that knowledge in different areas of their life.
Flitting about multiple programming platforms is akin to learning how to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on 6 different instruments and claiming that one can play all 6 competently after learning one song on each. Similarly, it could be detrimental to choose a centre that keeps changing programming platforms in the name of ‘exposure’ , which really just means that your child is not getting the deep exposure required. A good school must responsibly ensure that their students achieve true mastery of computational thinking, and how it is applied, regardless of platform used.
Our student Jun Min, 11, and his Fight Covid-19 simulator project. Even though he could have used Python or App Inventor, the new platforms taught to our 10-12 year-olds, he still chose to use Scratch to create his complex project. There is always something new to learn, especially on the platform students have used before!
Jun Min has shown his in-depth understanding of complex exponential modelling to simulate Covid-19 on Scratch, just like the advanced modelling and simulation done by experts! Talented, driven students like Jun Min never get bored of previous platforms they have used, and constantly go back to them to develop new and advanced projects!
2. Research-Backed Structured Roadmap
A good coding school should not only focus on going in-depth into a specific programming language, but must also have a structured roadmap where our students are properly trained on the basic programming concepts. For example at Coding Lab, our students are trained extensively in computational thinking skills using Python; which is then easily translatable across other languages such as C++ or Javascript. These same fundamentals also apply across different platforms or hardware such as the micro:bit, Arduino, or Thunkable etc – the sky’s the limit!
“Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists. … Thinking like a computer scientist means more than being able to program a computer. It requires thinking at multiple levels of abstraction. We have witnessed the influence of computational thinking on other disciplines. For example, machine learning has transformed statistics. … Computational biology is changing the way biologists think. Similarly, computational game theory is changing the way economists think; nanocomputing, the way chemists think; and quantum computing, the way physicists think. Computational thinking is tomorrow’s reality.“
Jeanette Wing, Executive Vice President for Research and Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University
Research has stated the importance of emphasising computational thinking skills. This is especially pointed out by Jeanette Wing, Professor of Computer Science who is holder of a doctoral degree from MIT, and has been recognised with distinguished service awards from the Computing Research Association and the Association for Computing Machinery. Our first-hand experience and results also support this – our teenage students, with a strong foundation of core computational thinking concepts almost exclusively in Python, were able to later on pick up C++ programming very quickly to clinch 10 Medals in the National Olympiad in Informatics 2023.
Overall, we ensure our curriculum is well-structured, comprehensive and designed to prepare students to become future leaders in technology. Hear directly from our founder, who shares his philosophy and research on how we crafted our Coding Lab curriculum to be Best-In-Class.
Featuring Andrew, 13, winner of the Most Creative Award at the International Coding Showcase 2022. Andrew started coding with us when he was only 8 years old. He’s come a long way since!
Our students obtained a total of 6 Silver and 4 Bronze medals at the 26th NOI, held in April 2023.
3. Reputation and Track Record
As much as schools claim to be good, we can only be assured of their claims based on the school’s reputation and reviews by parents and students themselves.
Coding Lab has a strong reputation as a leading coding school in Singapore, having received numerous accolades and recognition for its innovative curriculum, experienced educators and outstanding learning environment.
We are dedicated to nurturing future leaders in technology here at Coding Lab. We provide opportunities for students to apply their skills to solve real-world problems – both in the classroom and through competition experience. Whether it’s featuring their work in our #CodingLabStudents series or encouraging them to participate in our annual International Coding Showcase (held in conjunction with our Japan campuses), our student achievements give our students a voice with which to share their passion.
However, it is impossible and unethical for us to claim to fully guarantee any particular results. What we CAN do is to work together with our students to ensure that their results are the best that they can be. You can trust us to provide everything we can for our students, so you can leave your child in our capable hands. Our track record definitely speaks for itself! After spending time working with our students, they have brilliant works to showcase to the public, and we are proud to have been part of their coding journey.
Our reputation has been acknowledged by various media outlets such as the Straits Times (we have been featured 3 times!), Channel NewsAsia and Channel 8, Lianhao Zaobao, etc. for our contributions to the education sector and commitment to promoting technology and innovation in Singapore.
Hear from some of our parents and students firsthand:
“Coding Lab has been an excellent learning journey for my son. He is highly motivated to attend every lesson and loves the engaging curriculum. The instructors are knowledgeable and patient, which helps him to understand the concepts easily. Highly recommended!“
– Felicia C.
“My daughter has been attending Coding Lab for over a year and has grown to love coding. The instructors are passionate and supportive, and the curriculum is well-designed for children. I appreciate the regular updates and feedback on my daughter’s progress. Overall, we’re very satisfied with the quality of instruction and the learning environment.“
– Aileen T.
“Coding Lab has been a fantastic experience for my son. He has learned so much and is always excited to share his projects with us. The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and supportive, and the curriculum is engaging and age-appropriate. We highly recommend Coding Lab to any parent who wants to give their child a head start in coding.“
– Henry L.
“My daughter loves coding and has been attending Coding Lab for the past few months. She is always excited to attend classes and loves the engaging curriculum. The instructors are patient and supportive, and they always provide timely feedback on her progress. I highly recommend Coding Lab to any parent who wants to give their child a quality coding education.“
– Grace Y.
Throught these years, we have built a strong reputation among our students and parents for our commitment to providing high-quality coding education and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning community. As a leading coding school in the region, we believe that every child has a chance to shine; whether they want to program a Health Advisor app for Grandpa, a Python kitchen timer for mum, or participate in a competition – We nurture future leaders in technology.
4. Passionate and Highly-Qualified instructors
A good school needs to be have well-trained educators who are knowledgeable about their field and is passionate about teaching. They should also be able to provide guidance, mentorship, and support throughout their students’ learning journey.
At Coding Lab, our instructors are highly experienced and knowledgeable about their respective fields. Graduates from top universities with prior teaching experience and background in technology, our educators come from various sectors such as teaching, cybersecurity, engineering, computer science, defence technology, and more!
To ensure the best learning experience for our students, all educators undergo rigorous training about teaching methods and the curriculum so that we deliver what we promise. Even our enrolment consultants who ensure the smooth running of our centres are properly trained to interact with our students, with a strong background in hospitality!
We are proud to present our team! Here is Yong Ning, our founder (far left) with some of our passionate Coding Lab educators!
Our educators support our students in various parts of their coding journey. Whether it be to spark their passion for coding, or to prepare them for Direct School Admission through coding, or help them for competitions such as the National Olympiad for Informatics, our passionate and dedicated educators have done them all and our students’ achievements reflect exactly that.
Our stringent hiring process ensures that our educators are top-notch in both knowledge and teaching abilities, and we’re glad to note that parents definitely agree with the high quality teaching that your children receive here at Coding Lab!
A school should have a comfortable learning environment with access to the necessary (as well as helpful) equipment and tools so that our children can thrive.
When it comes to equipment and tools, Coding Lab definitely is on top with our spacious, air-conditioned classrooms and all technology and devices such as laptops/ computers and phones provided for class use. With our boardroom-style classroom, with swivel chairs, full length glass windows, and even view of the sea from our Parkway Parade branch, our centres are made to feel like our students’ second home!
A seaside view at our Parkway campus
Here is our educator using the interactive projector to engage her students effectively!
We also adopt modern technology to aid us with our teaching (and to display to students how technology can help ease our lives!). One example would be our Smart Interactive Projectors where our educators and students can annotate to visualise and illustrate our points. Other equipment such as drawing pads are ready for our educators’ use, so that our students can fully understand the lessons!
So to conclude…
Just like our children’s school admission exercises, we want to ensure they are with the cream of the crop and receive the best education possible with the most supportive learning environment. We have ensured that Coding Lab meets all of the criteria when it comes to being a good coding school, and dare we say it, the best in Singapore! 😉
