Coding Lab’s annual International Coding Showcase (ICS) is a collaboration with Coding Lab Japan, designed to provide a platform for our students aged 7 to 18 to present their remarkable coding projects. Our students get the opportunity to showcase their own exceptional projects, done in Scratch, App Inventor or Python, and share their brilliance with a global audience. This not only helps our budding coders gain confidence, but also paves the way for them to build a robust coding portfolio, preparing them early for a successful future in today’s digital age. The resounding success of ICS 2022 transcended borders as we proudly featured Coding Lab students from all over the world, from Singapore and Japan to Germany, Indonesia and the United States!

Our students take pride in their solid coding foundation and enriched knowledge gained from our MIT-inspired coding classes. They have poured their hearts and souls into their projects, and their extraordinary submissions left an indelible impression on our esteemed panel of judges! We proudly present an exclusive blog feature highlighting the achievements of our top Distinction winners from ICS 2022. These students not only secured the prestigious top award, but also gained the opportunity to have their superb work featured on our very own Coding Lab YouTube channel, captivating the attention of viewers from all across the globe!

Let us embark on an inspiring journey to learn more about our students’ coding journey and watch their amazing project submissions!


David Xu

7 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Best Presentation) Award, Young Computer Scientists (Ages 7-9)

Hobbies: Reading, playing the piano and I also enjoy coding when I am allowed to use the computer in my free time!

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of David Xu

How did you start coding? I followed in the footsteps of my older brother who is also a coder. I started coding with Scratch when I was in Primary 1!

Why did you join ICS 2022? I thought it would be fun to try and I had an idea to develop a game to help children learn science.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? Getting the chance to code with purpose! I enjoyed debugging because when I finally get it right, I feel very proud of myself!

What is your favourite thing about coding and Coding Lab? The teachers are very patient and help me learn how to code different things every week. My favourite part about Coding Lab classes is playing with the games I have made.

Future coding aspirations: I am currently taking part in the Minecraft Cup Competition 2023. I am very excited to build my own eco-friendly buildings and automatic farms, and I hope my team wins an award!

Any comments for the readers? I want to encourage all coders to not limit their imagination. Always try to think out of the box!


Nakamura Shinji

9 years old, Singapore

Distinction, Young Computer Scientists (Ages 7-9)

Hobbies: I spend a lot of time on coding. If I have more free time, I read comics and non-fiction books about coding.

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Nakamura Shinji

How did you start coding? My kindergarten offered a robotics lesson. The robotics teacher told my parents that I was exceptionally good because I came up with the best robotics solutions without any guidance from him. My mother then signed me up for free lessons from Smart Nation’s website, where we got to know about Coding Lab. I was extremely keen to learn more about coding, so my mother signed me up for more lessons at Coding Lab!

Why did you join ICS 2022? I wanted to compete with other contestants from Japan and showcase my projects on an international level!

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? My ICS project is about a game that takes 5 days to finish. I created this simple game because my younger brother wanted to play computer games, but most games were too difficult for him. This game only requires three keys from the keyboard to play. Through this experience, I also learnt how to edit a video for my presentation, which was very fun. Maybe I can become a YouTuber one day!

What do your family and friends say when they hear that you are a coder? My grandmother is very proud of me. She tells her friends that I won awards for coding. I would like to thank her for the full support that she has given me!

Future coding aspirations: I am planning to create an advanced game that no one can replicate. I am looking forward to mastering other programming languages too!

Any comments for the readers? Follow me on Scratch and look out for my new projects!


Chen Feng

10 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Most Promising Coder) Award, Advanced Computer Scientists (Ages 10-12)

Hobbies: I enjoy a variety of activities, like playing basketball, playing Chinese chess and reading books. When I want to unwind, I also play Roblox and Minecraft.

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Chen Feng

How did you start coding? At the age of 7, I started playing Roblox and was awed by the designs. This inspired me to take up coding so I signed up for my first coding class.

Why did you join ICS 2022? I saw this as an opportunity to challenge myself and find out where I stand in terms of my coding skills. Earning a Distinction Award gave me a rough understanding of my abilities.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? I learnt that determination and perseverance help me through hard times. Finding improvements and flaws in the project while continuously improving it is crucial. The best part of ICS is when I finally used Tkinter to make my Stock Price Retrievers inputs, which has a Graphical User Interface, which is more interactive than just plain text.

What is your favourite thing about coding and Coding Lab? Coding Lab not only trains our coding skills, but also allows us to hone our self-learning abilities and logical-thinking skills! Through the different problems provided, I was prompted to learn and research more about different functions myself, like the “join” function!

Future coding aspirations: I hope to make an entertaining Roblox game one day and also learn to utilise Python to make useful tools. I am interested in a career related to cybersecurity or programming apps in the future.

Any comments for the readers? As a coder, the ability to self-learn is critical for success. Be willing to take on new challenges! Persevere and remain determined when faced with difficult coding problems as this is an essential part of the learning process.


Aang Winston Angkasa

11 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Most Creative) Award, Advanced Computer Scientists (Ages 10-12)

Hobbies: I enjoy reading books.

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Aang Winston Angkasa

How did you start coding? I attended a class conducted by Coding Lab in 2017 when I was just 6 years old.

Why did you join ICS 2022? I wanted to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and put what I had learnt to the test.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? Coming across many python functions I did not know of previously, such as “webbrowser”, during my research. I added these new functions I had learnt into my project!

What do your family and friends say when they hear that you are a coder? My family members are very supportive and always encourage me to pursue my dream to be a coder!

Future coding aspirations: I want to be a programmer so I can make a simpler programming language that would help other programmers save time when writing their code!


Jacob Xu

11 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Best Presentation) Award, Advanced Electives (Ages 13-18)

Hobbies: Reading, coding and playing Minecraft! I also enjoy competing in Math Olympiads and even achieved a Silver in the Asia Pacific Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools Singapore in 2023.

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Jacob Xu

How did you start coding? I started coding when I was 6. My parents sent me to Coding Lab’s holiday camp to learn Scratch. After that, I progressed on to Python when I was 8 or 9!

Why did you join ICS 2022? I wanted to use my coding skills to raise awareness for the Russo-Ukrainian War.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? Being able to make codes that can be used by anyone. My biggest motivation is for people to interact with my projects!

What is your favourite thing about coding and Coding Lab? I am pushed out of my comfort zones to solve problems such as bugs, formatting, and even in language.

Future coding aspirations: I aspire to be a mathematician or a quantum physicist. I hope that my coding skills can be applied in these fields to solve real-world problems, for the good of humanity!

Any comments for the readers? Try your best and when in doubt, Google is your best friend.


Han Jo Xi

13 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Most Promising Coder) Award, Python (Ages 13-18)

Hobbies: When I am free, I normally play video games or listen to music. Sometimes, I also interest myself in some personal coding projects. For example, I’ve been working on a new programme that simulates the basic levels of the economy in real life. Using Python, I’ve created what I call the “economy simulator”, where users can run certain commands within the programme to change the economy!

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Han Jo Xi

How did you start coding? I started coding when I was Primary 2, with my first programming language being Scratch. From there, I moved on to Python and other programming languages.

Why did you join ICS 2022? I wanted to test my capabilities and challenge myself to create a programme that would appeal to the outside world. I feel that one of the most important aspects of programming is the readability of the code. Instead of just programmers being able to understand your code, non-programmers should also be able to.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? The ability to communicate with confidence. I was nervous during the presentation, but after a few retakes I mustered up the courage to present confidently and effectively.

What do your family and friends say when they hear that you are a coder? When I first expressed interest in coding, they were shocked. After some time, they enrolled me in coding classes. When I show my family members what I do, they are amazed at how much a few lines of code can do. In fact, one of my main motivations for creating my project is my family. They are my biggest supporters and their unwavering belief that I can win the showcase pushed me on.

Future coding aspirations: I aspire towards a job in computer software programming. I feel that my interests, combined with my current skill set, can tackle the industry’s problems.

Any comments for the readers? Take things step-by-step! When I first started out coding, I was bombarded by multiple problems, like not being able to debug my code. However, I’ve overcome these problems as my knowledge about different programming languages grew, making it easier to solve issues within the code.


Linus Lim Jiarui

14 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Best Presentation) Award, Python (Ages 13-18)

Hobbies: I code, play some computer games and musical instruments.

International Coding Showcase 2022 - Photo of Linus Lim Jiarui

How did you start coding? Initially, I applied for my school’s infocomm club but got rejected. Instead of giving up, I researched other ways to explore my area of interest and my passion for coding developed from there.

Why did you join ICS 2022? I wanted people to see what I can create with my coding skills and knowledge.

What’s your biggest takeaway from ICS 2022? Filming the presentation video was a new and interesting experience. It was fun making projects related to my areas of interest!

What is your favourite thing about coding and Coding Lab? I like the teachers who are always there to guide me and answer any questions I have.

Future coding aspirations: I want to improve on and optimise my current code while learning more about different topics. In the future, I would like to work in an exciting field in a job related to coding!

Any comments for the readers? The internet is a great place to learn coding. As long as you start somewhere, you are bound to do great things!


This concludes our 2022 International Coding Showcase (ICS)! Don’t miss the chance to check out our full list of winners here or view the playlist of videos of oour top Distinction and Judges’ Choices submissions.

The Coding Lab team would like to extend an immense THANK YOU to all our talented students who participated in this event. We appreciate the tremendous effort each and every one of you have dedicated to your projects! Congratulations to all our students for their outstanding achievements, and we look forward to seeing what other innovative projects they will come up with in future! Let us keep the flame of coding alive as we continue to hone our coding skills!

Keep a lookout for our International Coding Showcase 2023, coming soon! Brace yourselves for yet another awe-inspiring showcase of coding excellence!

Read all about the winners of our International Coding Showcase (SG-JP) 2021 here!

P.S. Our International Coding Showcase is only open to Coding Lab students. Interested in our award-winning coding classes? Check them out here.

(Written by Lech and Edited by Cheryl Tang)


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.

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

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Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
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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!


Teo Han Xiang Jairus

9 years old, Singapore

Distinction and People’s Choice Award, Scratch (Ages 7-9)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Jairus Teo

Hobbies: Coding! I code during my free time. Besides that, I love food!

How did you start coding? I joined a Scratch holiday coding camp at Coding Lab and I found that I liked it very much!

Why did you join ICS 2021? I wanted use my creativity and my imagination. Through my experience, I learnt that winning is not important as long as I tried my best and have fun in the process.

Future coding aspirations: I want to make a famous gaming app that people love to play!


Xu Ruiheng Jacob

10 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Most Promising Coder and Social Impact), App Inventor and Python (Ages 10-12)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Jacob Xu

Hobbies: I like to swim, read books, make art and craft projects out of things I can find around the house. I’ve made stuff like ice-cream stick catapults, Minecraft paper figurines and analogue board games. I also love playing Minecraft and Forge of Empires. I also enjoy playing on Scratch with my classmates.

How did you start coding? I think I was six years old when my mum sent me for a coding workshop. I asked her to let me continue because I found Scratch very fun and easy to use because I could build programmes like how I build English sentences and Lego. I could also play games made by others.

Why did you join ICS 2021? I wanted to give it a try because I like Chemistry and wanted to see what I could do with both Chemistry and coding during the December holidays. I was even coding my periodic table program while waiting for my mum to finish her perm at the hair salon! I felt that even if I didn’t win, at least I gave it a try.

I learned the importance of planning a project so that the final product can be what I imagined it to be. Through this, I learned that no matter how challenging a task may seem, we will be able to do it once we break the hard stuff down into smaller pieces and solve them piece by piece.

Future coding aspirations: I would like to learn how to make online games and learn to improve my user interface to make my games more user-friendly. When I grow up, I would like to do something related to Mathematics or Science, and hopefully coding can help me to solve tough problems in those areas!


Theodore Lee Cheng Jie

9 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Most Promising Coder and Most Innovative), Scratch (Ages 7-9) and Python Electives (Ages 13-18)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Theodore Lee

Hobbies: My hobbies are playing the piano, coding, badminton, golfing, playing chess and playing with my Rubik’s cube. During my free time, I will play chess online and try to improve my programming projects.

How did you start coding? It was by chance when my parents and I came across a coding school while window shopping. It looked interesting at first sight and my parents supported me. I started coding using WeDo, EV3, Scratch, and eventually Python.

Why did you join ICS 2021? My father shared with me about the competition. Initially, I was thinking of submitting my Scratch simulation project which I started during my free time. However, my dad encouraged me to challenge myself to re-create the simulation project using Python. I took up the challenge and I am happy that it turned out well!

I learned about resilience and never giving up when facing difficulties. There are also solutions to every problem, and failure is the only outcome if you give up.

Future coding aspirations: I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I hope to combine my programming knowledge and my medical knowledge to build and program a futuristic “nano-robot” that can be injected into the patient’s bloodstream to cure cancer and other serious illnesses in the future.

Read: Theodore was featured on Lianhe Zaobao with Coding Lab in Coding as a New Literacy in the Digital Age


Ankit Maharana

11 years old, Singapore

Distinction and Judges’ Choice (Best Presentation), App Inventor and Python (Ages 13-18)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Ankit Maharana

Hobbies: I like reading books and coding.

How did you start coding? I found my interest in learning to code.

Why did you join ICS 2021? I wanted to improve my coding skills. I learnt to not give up and to debug and fix problems.

Future coding aspirations: I want to make an app from my existing code!


Kyran Tan

11 years old, Singapore

Distinction, Python Electives (Ages 13-18)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Kyran Tan

Hobbies: I like to play Roblox and read books related to it. I sometimes create my own Roblox games too.

How did you start coding? I first started coding when my mother introduced me to Scratch Jr. I found it interesting as I could create simple games and animations. I started to code more frequently, learning more and more things along the way.

Why did you join ICS 2021? I joined ICS 2021 to challenge myself and to get myself out of my comfort zone. I think it was a precious opportunity to learn about more things related to coding. I have learnt to debug more effectively through my Wallety project.

Future coding aspirations: I plan to create a simple version of a messaging app like Discord or WhatsApp that will allow users to chat with full functionality without having to purchase any additional features.

My future occupation will definitely be related to coding. I hope to be a software application developer, where I can create, test and upgrade apps for others to use.

Read: Kyran Tan’s feature after clinching 1st Place in the Python (Ages 10-12) Category in the previous International Coding Showcase 2020

Read and Watch: Coding Lab Student Feature on Kyran Tan, 12


Jirapas Wongtreenatrkoon

15 years old, Singapore

Distinction and People’s Choice Award, App Inventor and Python Electives (Ages 13-18)

International Coding Showcase 2021 - Photo of Jirapas

Hobbies: I really like language subjects like English and Chinese a lot. Language subjects are all about expressing one’s ideas and imagination. Much like coding, it grants me the ability to express my ideas and imagination without being right or wrong. I also like to watch YouTube, anime, scroll through Reddit, as well as code.

How did you start coding? My father was the one who got me into coding. He was watching a Korean drama series called ‘Start-Up’ and there was this one character in there who could code. He shared about it with me and encouraged me to start learning to code.

Why did you join ICS 2021? I had some free time during the Christmas break and decided to make use of that time by joining the competition. Having made quite a few projects before, I’ve learned quite a lot in ICS while writing lines of code and improving from my mistakes.

All the ICS participants were also very good and watching their videos and projects gave me some ideas for my next game. In my opinion, the best part was making the video because I like recording and editing.

Future coding aspirations: Right now, I’m developing a currency rate logger, SGD to Baht to be exact. The app is personal to me. In any case, looking into the future I can really see myself doing something related to programming, especially now with the way things are advancing toward automation and Artificial Intelligence!

Using a Windows laptop? You can download Jirapas’ Genius Kitchen here.

When downloading this .exe file, the app may be flagged as an unusual file as it does not have many downloads yet. Press ‘Keep’ to continue your download. When launching the app, Window Smart Screen may stop you from launching, simply select ‘more info’ then ‘launch anyway’, this is because the app is not registered with Window yet. Other than that, thank you for downloading and enjoy!

Note: this app can’t be downloaded on iOS.


This concludes our 2021 International Coding Showcase (ICS)! You can check out the full list of winners here or view the playlist of videos of our top Distinction and Judges’ Choices (Best Presentation) submissions.

Congratulations to all of our participants once again and we can’t wait to see what else they will code! The Coding Lab team would like to give a HUGE thank you to all who participated. 🌟 We hope that our students keep on coding and creating awesome projects for the whole world to see!

Are you ready for the next run of our International Coding Showcase? Keep an eye out for it coming soon! 👀

Read all about the winners of our International Coding Showcase (SG-JP) 2020 here!

P.S. Our International Coding Showcase is open only to Coding Lab students. Interested to join in our award-winning coding classes? Check them out here.

(Written by Lech and Edited by Cheryl Tang)


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.

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

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Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
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Education plays a significant role in the lives of children – both as a milestone and as a journey in itself. As Educators at heart ourselves, we understand the challenges that come with each unique learning experience. Therefore, when a student under our tutelage achieves an educational goal, it is our honour to share the celebratory news!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How did you get started with Coding Lab?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Educator Evan

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

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

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

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

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

What is your favourite coding project so far and why?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Written by Lixin, Edited by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

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

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

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

How has coding made a difference in your life since?

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Written by Zulaikha and Lixin)


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

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

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

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

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

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

How did you get started with Coding Lab?

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

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

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

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

Photo of Kyran Tan at the park

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

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

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

Educator Edmund

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tell us, what is your future dream school?

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

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

Do share with us what your dream job is!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Written by Zulaikha and Lixin)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

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

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

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is your favourite project and why?

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

How has coding made a difference in your life?

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

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

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

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

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

(Written by Zulaikha)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

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

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

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

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

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

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

Hi Jake, tell us a bit about yourself!

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

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

How did your coding journey begin?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are your plans for the future?

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

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

(Written by Nicole Loo)


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.

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

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

Today, we would like you to meet Kieran Ho, our student and 1st Place (Python and Electives) at the International Coding Showcase 2020 (JP-SG) and awardee of Most Promising Young Coder at the Young Coders Global Hackathon (YCGH) 2020 Meet the inquisitive and bright, young boy in Secondary One this year.

Hi Kieran, tell us a bit about yourself!

Photo of Kieran, aged 12 and awarded the Most Promising Young Coder
Meet Kieran, aged 13 now, and with two years of coding experience

I turn 13 in July, and I have just started studying at NUS High School of Math and Science. I first got interested in coding when I came to Coding Lab in Primary 5. This led me to choose to attend NUS High as they have a module for computational thinking… and most of my friends are going there as well!

How was your initial coding experience?

When I first realised coding was a thing, I was slightly confused and didn’t really know what it was about. I only knew that you could code games. However, in Primary 2, when my friend said that he was reading a book about coding, I got interested in the topic and decided to find out more. Since then, I was fascinated by coding and after joining Coding Lab, I have deepened my understanding of programming immensely enough that I want it to be a part of my future career.

“Even if it seems hard now, in the future, it will get better and your hard work shall be rewarded!”

What is your favourite coding experience so far?

I really enjoyed participating in YCGH 2020. At the time, it was the largest project I had done, and I worked hard on it. In the end, my hard work paid off! I got a Merit award and got into the Top 5 finalists.

Is there a favourite project or program that you’ve done up?

My favourite project was probably a school administration system that I made using Python in my free time. The school administration program basically stores a list of students and teachers, and you can add students and teachers to the list and remove them as well. It could be used to manage teachers and students who have joined the school. This actually took a few weeks for me to code, which was quite a long time to me back then, as most projects I did back then didn’t really take too long to finish. It was quite fun to make and I really enjoyed it.

Watch Kieran’s International Coding Showcase submission

What would you say to other kids who are starting out coding for the first time now?

I would probably ask them to follow their dreams and to never give up. Even if it seems hard now, in the future, it will get better and your hard work shall be rewarded!

What do you like most about your coding classes?

I like that Coding Lab provides a great atmosphere to learn coding and even make new friends. The lessons are fun and immersive, and in case you need help, experienced coaches will always be by your side.

What do you want to do with coding in the future?

I might get a job that involves coding in some way, or enrol in a computational thinking course. I would definitely continue joining coding competitions, as I think they’re fun and can also help to improve my understanding of coding as a whole. They also teach me several important moral values such as resilience and perseverance.

Catch Kieran in the interview video with our dear students!

Kieran Ho, 13, is a Year One student at NUS High School of Math and Science. He started out with App Inventor when he was 11 years old, and has since quickly breezed through Python. He is brimming with potential, already taking on the Advanced Electives under our S200 series (recommended for ages 13 to 18).

(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.

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

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

Our dearest Coding Lab students in Singapore and Japan submitted their best projects through our International Coding Showcase (ICS) for the whole world to see! Conducted 100% online, ICS showcases our students’ talent through projects that they have done independently or through Coding Lab’s exciting courses

Our young coders aged 7 to 18 showed their tenacity and creativity in their Scratch and Python projects and we have no doubt that our bright participants will be going places in life! Learn more about our winning future leaders of technology and their awesome projects below. 


Category: Scratch Ages 7-9

1st Place: Enea Testa

Age: 9

Japan

Image of Enea Testa ICS Scratch Ages 7-9
Meet Enea, the passionate 9-year-old coder who included his dad in his video presentation.

Hobbies: Playing with my brother, reading books and coding! In my free time, I like to build things (for example, I built a zip line made out of rope, magnets and toilet paper roll) and play with my iPad.

How did you start coding? When my parents asked me if I had wanted to join an after school club, I thought that coding sounded interesting and I ended up liking it and continued doing it the following year. 

Why did you join ICS 2020? Brian, who is one of my coding teachers (at Coding Lab Japan), told me about the ICS competition and I thought it sounded fun so I picked my best project and used it. 

What have you learnt? I have learnt how to make and edit videos. As a coder, I had to think that I was not coding for myself. For example, the original game Jump did not have any instructions and I had to think about how I could help other users understand how to use it. I added text to most levels to explain what the new parts do and how to use them. It was also nice to see other participants’ projects because they gave me ideas for future projects, like how to make videos and how to present them.

The contest inspired me to continue working on my own project that I presented and I was motivated to improve the game by making new levels and adding new features. Now, I am really glad I joined because my game is now much better and enjoyable. 

Future coding aspirations: I would like to get better at Scratch and learn another programming language. I would also like to continue working on my game Jump and make new games on Scratch. I’m not sure about what I’ll do in the future but it will probably be coding-related because I really do enjoy coding!


Category: Scratch Ages 7-9

2nd Place: Itta Oba

Age: 9

Japan

Image of Itta Oba ICS Scratch Ages 7-9
Meet 9-year-old Itta, the confident coder of the colourful and vibrant Super Cat Run.

Hobbies: Coding and gaming. I create games in my free time.

How did you start coding? I thought it was very interesting, so I made the effort to start coding. 

Why did you join ICS 2020? I wanted to be able to showcase my own projects that I have worked hard on to everybody!

What have you learnt? I found out that there are so many other people who are creating projects on Scratch! The best part was being able to record the video of me showing what my game is about. 

Future coding aspirations: I would like to try and program with Python! 


Category: Scratch Ages 7-9

People’s Choice Award: Alicia Khong

Age: 8

Singapore

Image of Alicia ICS Scratch Ages 7-9
Meet our youngest winner and aspiring author, 8-year-old Alicia from Singapore.

Hobbies: I like to make Scratch games (I have 200+ games in my account!). My favourite activities include reading Harry Potter books, playing the piano, playing scooter and inline skating at the park.

How did you start coding? I started being curious about computers when I kept seeing my parents and older brother spending quite a lot of time on their laptops. I always wondered what they were doing and what a computer can do. Then, I started to pay more attention to my brother when he was learning Scratch. I got really interested in it and kept asking my brother many questions on how it works and how I could learn more.

Why did you join ICS 2020? I like to see the different Scratch projects that my friends and classmates create. It is interesting to play their Scratch games and learn from each other. It has also encouraged me to try my best to create a new game so as to share it with more people. 

What have you learnt? I have learnt to source for more information like pictures, colours and ideas. I have also tried many ways to improve my Scratch projects by trial and error. The best part is learning how to present my project and speak confidently in front of the camera. 

Future coding aspirations: I want to become an author who writes books that tell stories, make games and teach robotics. This year, I plan to create a Harry Potter game with as many characters as possible. 


Category: Scratch Ages 10-12

1st Place: Nicolo Testa

Age: 10

Japan

Image of Nicolo Testa ICS Scratch Ages 10-12
Meet 10-year-old Nicolo, from Yoyogi International School in Japan, with an interest in space.

Hobbies: I really enjoy reading. I normally read fictional books and in my free time, I like playing on my iPad. My favourite game is Roblox where I play in the available environments, but I also enjoy designing in the Roblox Studio with my brother Enea (who came in first in the 7-9 category).

How did you start coding? My mom informed me that there was a coding club at my school (Yoyogi International School) and I have always wanted to code, so I joined. 

Why did you join ICS 2020? It seemed fun and because I really like coding, I really wanted to join ICS. It was also a good opportunity to make a video for a wide audience and I always wanted to try that. It was real fun! 

What have you learnt? I learnt how to make videos and I can say that it is not an easy thing to do. As a coder, this competition has helped me to code differently. I had to think about other people playing the game so I had to design the game with some user interface. For example, I added different game-modes and I also made a version for my little cousins Ettore and Elia in Italy.

All ICS participants were very good and watching their videos and their projects gave me some ideas for my next game. In my opinion, the best part was making the video because I like recording and editing.

Future coding aspirations: I recently started to code with Python and I would really like to continue with it. I have also started using the turtle module and I can’t wait to make my first game with this. I also learnt a bit about making games with App Inventor. 

On Scratch, I’m making a studio called Cat Series with my brother Enea, Itta (who came in second in the 7-9 category), and another friend named Noah.

I also study space and would like to be a space scientist!


Category: Scratch Ages 10-12

2nd Place: Wang Jun Min

Age: 11

Singapore

Image of Wang Jun Min ICS Scratch Ages 10-12
Meet the 11-year-old aspiring game designer, Jun Min.

Hobbies: My hobbies are playing computer games, coding, creating games, exploring Maths and cycling.

How did you start coding? I started when I was in Primary 1 by participating in a holiday programme (Scratch 1). From there, my interest was ignited and I started experimenting more on my own. I went on to join regular classes the following year! 

Why did you join ICS 2020? My teacher encouraged me to participate, and I had already coded many projects. I had started coding a new clicker game just before the deadline and I wanted to give it a shot. I felt it was a good opportunity to practice my presentation skills as well.

What have you learnt? I saw a wide variety of games from the other participants and it inspired me to diversify the games that I code.  

Future coding aspirations: I hope to be a game designer in future. I may even want to combine different genres of games to create a new type of game! 

Jun Min previously won 3rd Place in our Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 (Junior Category). Read his feature here.


Category: Scratch Ages 10-12

People’s Choice Award: Andrew Goh

Age: 11

Singapore

Image of Andrew Goh ICS Scratch Ages 10-12
11-year-old Andrew amazed with his interactive game that used augmented reality!

Andrew previously won Merit (Best Storyline) in our Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 (Junior Category). Read his feature here.


Category: Python Ages 10-12

1st Place: Kyran Tan

Age: 10

Singapore

Image of Kyran ICS Python Ages 10-12
10-year-old Kyran stood out with his Clockc program and innovative video presentation skit.

Hobbies: My hobbies are reading, coding and playing online games such as Roblox. I sometimes create my own Roblox game using Roblox Studio and Lua Programming. I will also occasionally create some Python projects for my own use. 

How did you start coding? My mother introduced me to Scratch Junior when I was 6 years old. It is a program where I can drag and drop blocks to create a project. I was fascinated with what Scratch could do and was hooked on coding ever since. 

Why did you join ICS 2020? I joined the International Coding Showcase as I wanted to make full use of my school holidays and challenge myself to create a project that is both practical and useful. 

What have you learnt? As a coder, I learnt not to give up, even if I am faced with challenges. I have also learnt how and where to find the resources for my project, such as StackOverflow and YouTube. I got answers to my questions through these sources, and even learnt other new things along the way. 

The best part of participating in ICS 2020 was not only the self-satisfaction I derived from solving problems, but also the enjoyment and fun that I got from video editing, something that was totally new to me at that time. 

Future coding aspirations: I am planning to create another program for people who use Maths frequently in their lives. 

I have a huge interest in coding, so my future occupation will definitely be coding-related. I hope to be a software application developer, where I can create, test and upgrade apps for others to use. 


Category: Python Ages 10-12

2nd Place: Keian Teh

Age: 11

Singapore

Image of Keian Teh ICS Python Ages 10-12
11-year-old Keian presented his Python turtle program with charisma and confidence.


Category: Python Ages 10-12

People’s Choice Award: Dhanvin Mohan Ram

Age: 11

Singapore

Image of Dhanvin ICS Python Ages 10-12
Meet 11-year-old Dhanvin, our Overall People’s Choice winner with more than 400 votes.

Hobbies: My hobbies are reading, watching Minecraft coding channels and experimenting with different apps.

How did you start coding? I started coding in my school CCA (Robotics Club) as I was keen to understand how coding works and to experiment with different robots and machines.

Why did you join ICS 2020? My parents encouraged me to join ICS 2020. Since I had a short time to meet the deadline, I submitted a Python project that I had coded earlier.

What have you learnt? By participating, I learnt to create a video presentation for a project. From the other participants, I learnt how to improve my presentation skills and also got to learn the Define, Listen For functions and new files for importing to Python.

Future coding aspirations: I would like to create Robots that can be used in the medical field. In my free time, I would like to be a Minecraft coder and post videos on YouTube about it.


Category: Python & Electives Ages 13-18

1st Place: Kieran Ho

Age: 12

Singapore

Image of Kieran Ho ICS Ages 13-18
Meet 12-year-old Kieran and watch him explain the codes behind his two-player card game.

Hobbies: I like reading, but mostly, coding.

How did you start coding? I started coding after being introduced to it by a friend when I was in primary school. Ever since then, I have fallen in love with coding.

Why did you join ICS 2020? I decided to join ICS as I was quite bored during the holidays and decided to try something fun. I also felt like I should try it out as I like coding, and I want to show my coding skills to more people.

What have you learnt? I liked ICS as there was enough time for me to complete the project, and it was fun seeing the other participants’ projects. I think this allows us to see more of others’ work, to gain inspiration after the competition for possible future projects. The best part was finally finishing the presentation and knowing that I had completed my project. It gave me a sense of accomplishment.

Future coding aspirations: I might consider participating in the next coding competition, and possibly pursuing a coding-related job in the future.

Kieran previously won Merit (Most Promising Young Coder) in our Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 (Senior Category). Read his feature here.


Category: Python & Electives Ages 13-18

2nd Place & People’s Choice Award: Kenneth Gunawan

Age: 14

Singapore

Image of Kenneth Gunawan ICS Python Ages 13-18
Meet the enthusiastic and curious 14-year-old Kenneth, and see how he used PyGame to create his Tic Tac Toe game.

Hobbies: My hobbies include playing table tennis with my dad, playing the saxophone, watching movies, playing video games, and of course, coding.

How did you start coding? I began learning how to code by myself when I was around 13. I was learning C+, but I didn’t really enjoy it as it was quite difficult to keep up with, so I took a break until I began learning again when I was in quarantine. I began learning Python with Coding Lab, and I’m super satisfied with where I am now and how much I’ve learnt.

Why did you join ICS 2020? My mom was the one who shared with me about ICS. By that time, I had already made the program that I wanted to share. I love being able to share my projects, and I’m happy that I won a prize for doing so. 

What have you learnt? I used PyGame to code my program, so I had to learn how to use it. I actually taught myself PyGame before I went on to learn it again in Python Perfect 3. Besides that, I also had to learn how to create a video, things like recording the screen and my voice at the same time, which took me a while. 

Future coding aspirations: I’m always looking forward to learning more Python, and I hope I’ll be able to use it to create a useful program that anyone can use in the future. 


This concludes our International Coding Showcase 2020! View the full list of winners here, which includes our commendable Judges’ Choice and Merit award winners.

The Coding Lab team would like to extend our deepest appreciation to all of our participants. It was truly a joy to see them growing in abilities and confidence, and we hope that our students continue to nurture their talent and love for coding. 

Keep an eye out for our future events! 👀

Read about our Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 Junior winners here.

Read about our Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 Senior winners here.

(Written by Cheryl Tang and Zulaikha, Designs by Zenia Cheong)


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

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Meet 13-year-old Ziv. A creative and fast learner, he picked up coding when he was 11 and hasn’t looked back since. He was part of a team that won the code::XtremeApps:: (CXA) 2019 Hackathon (Junior Category) by IMDA and was in the Top 10 Finalists of the Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020.

Photo of Ziv with a sunset
A boy with geeky humour, the Yew Tee Primary School alumnus is now learning as much as he can about Python before proceeding to Java and C++ coding. Photo courtesy of Ziv.

Hi Ziv, how did you get started on coding?

Mum felt that I spent too much time on computer games, so she signed me up for classes and later realised that I have a flair for coding. I truly enjoy my lessons at Coding Lab and have since developed a passion for programming, aspiring to use my skills as a Game Developer or White Hat Hacker.

Ziv’s Mother added, “Frankly speaking, Ziv naturally fits into coding as he is good in Math and Science. He is now focused on his journey to becoming a Game Developer or White Hat Hacker, and I’m glad I made the correct choice when he was in P5.”

Note: White Hat Hackers are ethical hackers, using their skills for security to protect against threats or other hackers.

“Coding can be hard. … You should also commit your free time for coding so as to improve. Most importantly, you need to have a passion for programming.”

What do you like most about coding? Why?

What I like most is that I can do anything limited by only my imagination and knowledge. This means that I can do whatever I want, I can also do things that are impossible in the real world. So far, my experience at Coding Lab has been good. I learnt a lot of things on Scratch, MIT App Inventor, Micro:Bit and Python thanks to my mentors.

I am now learning Python, which is a big jump from all the other coding languages I’ve used. Simply because I have to type out all the codes instead of using blocks. Just an additional bracket could lead to a big error. Despite the big jump, I am able to learn most of the things thanks to the teachers’ guidance.

Ziv’s team, Eagle Eye, receiving their award. Photo from CodeXtremeApps.

How did your Coding Lab mentors guide you for CXA 2019? What are your key takeaways from the competition?

We encountered a lot of problems, but thankfully, we were able to debug it. By applying what our Coding Lab mentors had guided us to do in our regular classes, we managed to overcome the glitches we faced. Most importantly I had lots of fun participating with the team!

What advice would you give to young coders who are new to programming?

Coding can be hard. You will learn how to debug and think logically. If you encounter problems, you should ask the teacher for help. You should also commit your free time for coding so as to improve. Most importantly, you need to have a passion for programming.

Ziv presenting his team's game to the judges at the CXA 2019
Ziv presenting his team’s game to the judges at the CXA 2019.

Ziv Lim, 13, is a Secondary One student at Zhonghua Secondary School. He started off with our Scratch 1 class in 2018, has since completed our ScratchYoung Computer Scientists and MIT App Inventor classes, and is currently picking up Python.

The Champion of the CXA 2019 and Top 10 Finalist of the Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020 is constantly seeking improvement with the goal of becoming a Game Developer or White Hat Hacker. His enthusiasm for coding is evident, going beyond what is taught in class, and continuously demonstrating his creativity and ability to think on his feet. We’re glad that such a bright young student like Ziv began his coding journey with us at Coding Lab!

(Written by Cheryl Tang)