Blog
Sharing our intimate insights on Education, Computational Thinking and Technology
Welcome to our blog, where we delve into the realms of education, coding, and technology. We aim to empower parents and students by providing valuable insights, tutorials, and resources. From unraveling the mysteries of coding to exploring its endless possibilities, we believe that coding is not just a skill but a mindset that nurtures problem-solving, creativity, and resilience. Join us on this exciting journey as we shape the next generation of digital pioneers, preparing them to thrive in the ever-evolving digital age.
Congratulations to Woodgrove Primary for placing top 3 in the National Thinkers Challenge!
This year, we had the opportunity to coach Woodgrove Primary, who won the Most Feasible and Sustainable Award in the National Thinkers Challenge 2022 by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan!
Out of 52 teams, the team placed in the top 3 and clinched 1 out of the 5 awards presented. This competition aims to let students think of innovative tech solutions and this year’s theme was food wastage, and the students created a prototype mobile app incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Fun Techtivities in February!
Hop into the Year of the Rabbit with our compiled list of #techtivities, where you can enjoy time with your family, have fun and see the wonders that technology can bring! 🐇
Starting with February’s #TechFact, did you know that the chess A.I programme “Deep Blue” defeated world champion Garry Kasparov in a game in 1996? That marked the first time a chess computer had beaten a world champion!
Now that we’re all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
#ParentsWhoWork: Want to increase your productivity? Check out these 8 browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox!
Trying to get your work done efficiently but find yourself distracted? We’ve all been there, our attention diverted by social media and other websites instead of focusing on our task at hand. But don’t worry, we have compiled a list of the 8 best browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox that are designed to help you focus and boost your productivity! 👍
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Stephanie Swee
One of our most beloved educators, Stephanie Swee charms her class with her unique personality and background in Cyber Security!
A board game aficionado with past work experience in the IT industry, she aspires to bring the same level of enthusiasm to her classroom and pass on her passion for coding to her students. Travel with us through her journey into becoming a Coding Lab Educator! 😄
Fun Techtivities in January!
The end of holidays does not mean the end of having fun. Combine fun and learning about technology through our techtivities, where we can enjoy a day out with our family and get to see amazing technology in action!
Starting off with a #TechFact for 2023, did you know that Wikipedia was launched 22 years ago on the 15th of January, becoming the “largest and most-read reference work in history”? As of 2022, they are still in the top 5 most popular websites in the world, and they have information available in 329 languages with contributions from users all over the world! (Source)
What's your digital footprint? Take care of it!
Social media has become an intimate way for many of us to connect with relatives and old friends when we share pictures of our families and celebrations for the various events in our lives. However, that also means everyone else is watching.
It is estimated that by 2030 “parents’ over-sharing of personal information about their kids on social media could cost almost £670m in online fraud”. How can this happen? We must first understand our “digital footprint”.
#CodingLabStudents: Wang Jun Min, 13, NUS High School of Math and Science
Meet Jun Min, our avid coder and Secondary One student currently studying in his dream school, NUS High School of Math and Science, which he entered through Direct School Admission (DSA). As one of Coding Lab's earlier students (he started when he was barely 7 years old), we catch up with him since his previous blog feature.
Fun Techtivities in December!
School holidays are in full swing, and we are all no doubt thinking about how to best enjoy our time before the next year begins. This is where techtivities come in – activities where you can learn more about the immense possibilities of technology, while having fun at the same time!
For December’s #TechFact, did you know that 40 years ago, the computer was named the “Man of the Year” by TIME Magazine? This is the first time the editors of the magazine selected a non-human recipient for the award. It speaks of the large impact computers had in the world 40 years ago, and clearly still persisting till today!
Now that we’re all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
International Coding Showcase 2021 Summed Up
Coding Lab’s annual International Coding Showcase (ICS) is a collaboration with Coding Lab Japan to showcase our brilliant (and brave!) students ages 7 to 18 and their very own projects – whether it’s Scratch, App Inventor or Python – and share them with the world. ICS 2021 saw Coding Lab students not only from Singapore and Japan, but also from other countries such as Germany, Indonesia and the United States!
With coding foundation and knowledge from our MIT-inspired coding classes, our students put in their blood, sweat and tears and used their ingenuity and creativity to create videos and projects that wowed the panel of judges. Today, we bring to you an exclusive blog feature of some of our top Distinction winners from ICS 2021. They clinched the top award and were featured on our Coding Lab YouTube channel – which reached thousands of viewers all over the world.
Learn all about their coding journey and watch their amazing project submissions!
#CodingLabParenting: Top 5 Educational STEM Games for Your Children
We know that you've got lots of things to do, so we've hunted down and made a list of 5 Educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Games for Children – so you don't have to search for them yourself! Now, screen time can be productive and educational, and the family can relax and wind down together after a long day.
Fun Techtivities in November!
School holidays are almost here! 😄 It’s always fun to start thinking about what we can do during our holidays. Why not combine some fun and tech-learning by participating in some techtivities?
Starting off with November’s #TechFact, did you know that the term “robot” was first popularised by science fiction in 1920? 🤖
When Czech playwright Karel Čapek had an idea for a play with artificial workers, his brother suggested calling them robots, derived from Czech words robotnik and robota, forced worker and forced labour respectively.
Now that we’ve learnt a new titbit, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Yin Xuan Tan
Today, we will get to know one of our most passionate and dedicated educators, Tan Yin Xuan!
With a love for working and teaching people, Yin Xuan’s foray into the tech industry to empower and educate her students definitely makes for an interesting story! Find out more about why she brings a unique perspective to her classroom!
#CodingLabParenting: Video Games as Stepping Stones to Success
Today, our Educator and Assistant Curriculum Team Lead, Hovan Tan, will be sharing with us his insights and personal experiences with video games. He'll also talk about understanding your child's games, what you should be wary of and how video games are stepping stones to success for your child. Let's hear from Teacher Hovan! 👇
Fun Techtivities in October!
Exams are coming up, or may soon be over for some of us. While working hard, it is important to take a break as well. Why not take a break to have fun and discover the amazing things technology has to offer through some techtivities? 😉
Let’s first learn something new. For October’s #TechFact, did you know that the first computer programmer was Ada Lovelace? In the 1840s, she pioneered her work on the Analytical Engine, which is often regarded as the world’s first computer – setting an example for women in tech ever since. 🤩
Now that we’re all warmed up, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
#CodingLabStudents: Darius Yong, 13, School of Science and Technology
Education plays a significant role in the lives of children - both as a milestone and as a journey in itself. As Educators at heart ourselves, we understand the challenges that come with each unique learning experience. Therefore, when a student under our tutelage achieves an educational goal, it is our honour to share the celebratory news!
Hear From Our Founder: Experiencing a Best-in-Class Curriculum Part II
In the previous series, our Founder Mr Yong Ning Foo shared with us how our award-winning, MIT-inspired coding curriculum was thoughtfully created.
Today, in the second part of this Hear From Our Founder series, we sit down with Yong Ning and his two children and inspirations – Audrey and Mitchell, ages 9 and 7 respectively – who are students of Coding Lab themselves! Hear all about their experiences and get the answers to the most commonly asked questions about our curriculum.
#CodingLabParenting: 3 Keys to Unlock Your Child’s Successful Future
We all want our students to grow up to be successful – and as parents and educators ourselves, we understand this too. It's important to note that there is no one definition of success for everyone. But in a world that's increasingly becoming technology-driven, how can we help our children on their journey to their own definition of success?
Fun Techtivities in September!
Once again, school holidays are approaching this September, but no worries! We have you covered with techtivities that would spark your child’s interest in technology while they enjoy themselves! 😄
Let’s start off with September’s #TechFact. Did you know that an Non-Fungible Token (NFT) made by artist Pak smashed the record price for cryptographic art in 2021? 🖼️ At USD $91.8 million, the art piece “The Merge” became the highest-valued art piece sold by a living artist, and still remains so until today, as of August 2022!
Now that we have learnt a new titbit, let’s get down to business and discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨
A Peek Into Our Course: Junior Coders Programme - Coding, Robotics, Montessori Learning and Tinkering with STEM
Giving their child the best of everything is what every parent wants. Starting off on a good note in their learning journey is extremely crucial for our young ones, especially for coding. The earlier you get a head start, the easier it is to grasp and understand the concepts!
With an award-winning curriculum inspired by MIT, our Junior Coders Programme (JCP) is specially designed for little ones aged 5 to 6 to be introduced to the wonderful world of coding! They will learn computational thinking skills, which are applicable to both coding and other areas like Mathematics!
Hear From Our Founder: Creating a Best-in-Class Curriculum Part I
Here at Coding Lab, we often talk about our MIT-inspired and award-winning coding curriculum for children and teenagers Ages 5-18. But have you ever wondered what it takes to craft and create such a best-in-class curriculum that would challenge and engage kids at the right level? How do we make decisions about the curriculum and what are some frequently asked questions?
As a full scholarship recipient from the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a former Regional Director in a US multinational company, with experience in a technology startup in Silicon Valley, Mr Yong Ning Foo shares with us why he chose to enter the education industry and the process of creating the award-winning Coding Lab curriculum.