coding

Meet Lucas Loh! – His Learning Journey with The Lab Singapore

Meet Lucas!

Lucas is not your typical 11 year old. Like many boys his age, he loves his computer games  – but he is also passionate in programming.

His mom quoted, “He loves playing coding games (particularly Clash of Code)”.

“Coding is sometimes fun and sometimes difficult. If you can solve the question, you feel good.” says Lucas.

Early Beginnings

Lucas’s journey began at an early age with a robotics school in the East.

“I love Lego and my parents enrolled me into a robotics school while walking in a shopping mall one day!”

Unfortunately, as much as Lucas loved Lego/robotics, his journey was cut short as the learning environment did not suit him.

Months later, Lucas’s mum came across The Lab Singapore and enrolled him. Since then, his skills and enthusiasm have gone from strength to strength.

Lucas has been a student of The Lab since 2019. His humble beginnings of programming begun with The Lab Junior Program for ages 7-9 years old. Lucas did not start out as a star. He was a normal student like anyone else. He was not the fastest or smartest in class. Yet, it was The Lab’s learning style that allowed him to thrive in the class. 

The Lab strongly believes in learning without boundaries. What that means is that we give students the required amount of time for them to learn and understand, especially when programming can be quite complex. Each student are given their individual tasks and leaning journey. Through this way of learning. Lucas blossomed.

To date, he has completed The Lab Coder Program and is now in The Lab X Competitive Programming Course. 

Last August, Lucas competed in one of the largest coding competitions in Singapore, the Coding Olympics Singapore 2022, held by the Singapore Science Centre.

More than 100 primary schools in Singapore with thousands of students participated in this single event and Lucas emerged as one of the winners under Category B. 

Days before the competition, he said nonchalantly “The practice questions are so easy!”.

The Lab is highly fortunate to have aspiring programmers like Lucas who enjoy coding and appreciate The Labs unique teaching style.

We hope that Lucas’s story will inspire more young coders to take up programming and one day be as passionate as Lucas!

What does Lucas wants to say to you, aspiring coders?

“You must have interest to do coding because it takes a lot of patience. MOST IMPORTANTLY, never give up! “

What does Lucas’s mom has to say about us?

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Coding Olympics Singapore 2022 – The Lab Singapore Winners

Congratulations to our Coding Olympics Participants!
 

On 6 August, 42 of our students set out to compete in one of the biggest coding competition in Singapore, the Coding Olympics Singapore 2022*, held by the Singapore Science Centre. All of our students have fought very hard and we are proud of those who have participated. <Remember, it is the experience that counts!>

We have emerged victorious with 3 of our winners bagging the Category A and B of the competition among the thousands of participants across Singapore.

Congratulations to them for a job well done! It is an incredible milestone for these young coders and an inspiration for our students. We hope to see more of our students participate in the competition next year.

Once again, congratulations to all!

* The Coding Olympics Singapore is prized as Singapore’s largest National Coding competition for kids (ages 8-12 years old).

 

Create DSA Portfolios by joining competitions:

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Coding V.S. Robotics

Coding… Robotics… Programming… STEM… STEAM… Today, parents are spoiled with a myriad of choices for their kids. And with choices, comes confusion – the paradox of choice. In this article, we will focus on a very common question most parents ask: Coding vs Robotics. These two terms are often interchangeably used. But are they the same?

Let us look at the differences between Coding and Robotics.

What is it about?

Coding

Children learn to write instructions for robots or machines. There are 2 types of languages:

1) Block-based (eg. Scratch)

2) Text-based (eg. Python)

Robotics

Children learn to design and build robots. They learn to program the robots to perform and execute certain tasks. There are 2 types of languages:

1)Block-based (eg. Lego Robotics)

2) Text-based (eg. C++)

What do they learn?

Focus on software and developing step by step instructions by applying logical thinking skills and mathematical knowledge.

Focus on hardware (i.e. the structures and mechanicals of the robots) and software (i.e. coding knowledge).

Accessibility

There are free coding games available for home-practices (Tynker, Minecraft, Scratch etc.).

Robotics kits are required for home-practices.

Is it suitable for remote learning?

Flexible for on-site and online learning.

On-site learning is highly recommended.

What can they use with the knowledge?

Children equipped with the knowledge of text-based language (ie. Python) are able to develop apps or games so long they have a computer.

Children develop high logical and critical thinking skills. These skills tend to assist children in their school work, particularly in subjects such as Mathematics and Science.

Children are able to use their creativity to design and create their own robot or even modify their toys.

Children develop strong technical skills for engineering. Engineering can help a child to understand real-world technologies and problems, thus allowing them to see how their other school subjects are relative to their lives and the world around them.

Future Perspective

Children have broader selections including Robotics engineering, Web and App developing, Software engineering etc.

Children may pursue education in specific areas in engineering such as Robotics engineering , Aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering etc.

Robotics school usually caters to younger children, as robotics can be a good starting platform for children. Robots serve as a useful educational tool as kids learn faster and better through visual cues. As such, some coding schools include robots as part of their facilitation elements for younger children to see tangible results based on their coding.

As we move up the age levels, it may be advisable to move to a coding/programming school as visual cues are no longer necessary in facilitating the learning progression of a child. Additionally, learning coding gives a child a broader selection of choices for them to pursue their interests.

The Lab Singapore provides coding to children ages 5 to 16 years old. The unique difference lies with the use of robots to teach coding as the school believes that robots are a good tool to facilitate the deliverance of their curriculum. 

Interested to find out more? Register for our free trial class at www.thelab.sg to experience The Lab!

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Developing your child’s fine motor skills

Every baby has an innate curiosity to explore the physical limits of their body when they’re born. Generally, they are able to roll over by the age of four months and hold items by eight months. During these early stages of their life, your child develops motor skills.

What are motor skills? Motor skills are movements and actions of the bone structures. There are generally two groups of motor skills — gross motor skills and fine motor skills. As your child learns to walk, run, jump and play ball games, they’re developing gross motor skills, which engage the large muscles in their arms and legs, as well as improve the coordination of their entire body. On the other hand, when your child writes or zips clothes, they’re developing fine motor skills which make use of the small muscles in their fingers and toes.

Importance of fine motor skills

When your child is able to coordinate their fingers and toes, they are able to complete simple everyday tasks on their own as well as use tools like scissors and pencils. Furthermore, your child’s handwriting and cognitive learning abilities will improve.

Developing fine motor skills

As your child starts to develop fine motor skills, they need your unending support and patience in guiding them along the way. Here are some possible activities you can do with your child:

Quick and easy tools found at most homes: Tweezers, clothes pins or chopsticks. Use tweezers, clothes pins or chopsticks to pick up and sort objects like beads, cereal, cotton balls, pompoms or other small objects (watch closely for choking hazards).
Provide them with a variety of art supplies like chalks, crayons and finger paints when they are drawing and unleashing their creativity.
Encourage them to use utensils when eating. It is normal for children to mess up when they are initially learning about using utensils, so do be patient towards them.
Let them play with small objects like beads, marbles and Lego pieces. Since Lego pieces come in all forms and proportions, attaching Lego pieces together require fine control of the strength of the smaller muscles. Hence, playing with Lego pieces will improve your child’s dexterity.

The more your child practices using their smaller muscles, the better their dexterity and strength. Hence, introducing some fun activities and games involving the use of small items will go a long way in building their fine motor skills.

So, why don’t we start ‘training’ our fingers with our children, starting from today?

In The Lab, students age 5-9 years old learn coding with the use of Lego robotics. Connecting the bricks with precision and detail strengthens fine motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination. Picking up LEGO pieces with their fingers builds muscles and skill your child may need when holding and controlling a pencil to write or draw. Curious to understand or learn more about our programs?

Sign up for a complimentary trial class now!

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What skills does my kid develop from learning Coding?

5 main skills which are HIGHLY transferable:

(1) Logical and Analytical Thinking

Logic is a skill students have to practice while coding. Through dissecting existing programs to understand the process and flow to achieve the solution through written code, students become increasingly analytical. Whether they are building or debugging, they are exercising their logic faculties on a regular basis. Understanding machine operations, conditionals, and progression in coding projects strengthens logic. Being able to break down issues into small, separate parts and figure out how each is affecting the other will help students think in a systematic and objective way, rather than relying on solving problems emotionally.

(2) Problem-solving

Computers require specific instructions for it to work effectively. As such, students need to break down the problem and give direct and specific instructions for their program to work. Students have to be aware of and apply appropriate coding skills for different requirements or scenarios. Students that practice this will improve their ability, having broken down a problem that may seem complex or abstract, to recognise the optimal way that its solution can be articulated.

(3) Abstract thinking

Abstract thinking is the ability to think about objects, principles, and ideas that are not physically present, for example the use of analogies. Once students begin to learn languages like JavaScript or Python that are not immediately visualized, students will need to practice speculating and predicting results in how the interrelationships of the code happen as a whole.

(4) Project planning

Project is something that The Lab students does on a regular basis. It is proven that Coding is best learned through project-based learning. Students practice and learn planning by thinking through the steps necessary to achieve their end goal. In order to meet the deadline, set by the teacher, students learn how to assess their resources and knowledge to get the project done on time.

(5) Attention to detail

Coding is great practice for attention to detail. Not only from the perspective of the accuracy of the code itself, but also accounting for users’ needs; for example ensuring a well-designed user interface and experience. A savvy coder may develop a system to avoid repeated mistakes. Where errors are present, they will examine their work systematically. Experienced software developers often try to “break” programs to identify problems and areas of improvement before launching a product to the market. This iterative and creative process can be applied in your classroom as well. Get students to demo and test each other’s creations and see what they pick up on.

For more details on The Lab program, visit our website at: https://www.thelab.sg/programs/python-program/

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Why are Parents sending kids to Coding schools?

Coding has gone a long way.

Years ago, learning Coding is unheard-of for kids. Now, kids as young as 3 years old are learning it. The level of interests of parents sending kids to Coding schools is picking up speed.

Why is this so?

More children are being sent for computational thinking and coding lessons as parents increasingly see the value in starting them early in a manpower-hungry industry.

“ Children are now exposed to technology as soon as they are born, but it is better if my child engages with technology with a critical understanding rather than becoming a passive user. ”

 

In today’s digital age, most children learn to swipe and click before they can speak coherently or walk. Smartphones and tablets are their digital pacifiers, companions and entertainers. It is but natural, that many parents want their children to learn how to create the very technologies that they are dependent on.

 

“ They could be an artist, a doctor, a painter or a teacher. But what we do believe is that the coding and computational thinking will help them in excelling at anything they do in a digitally connected world.”

 

Building games and apps are not the only reason children are being nudged into computer programming. There is a growing need for digital literacy, and children with easy access to technology will be at an advantage. Coding offers a chance to improve cognitive skills and develop computational thinking.

 

Interested to find out more? Visit The Lab Programs @ www.thelab.sg.

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Five reasons why coding is important for young kids

 

Here are five reasons why coding is important for young kids:

– Coding is another language.  

Coding teaches kids the basic principles of languages and functions. It teaches kids how they can be combined to create meaning from seemingly unrelated elements, and how different shapes represent concepts like variables or data types. It’s a way that kids learn by doing as opposed to being told what to do. 

– Coding fosters creativity. 

Coding requires kids to builds on their imaginative capacities. It requires them to think about new ways of solving problems with limited resources in order to produce something (a program) out of nothing but imagination alone.  

– Coding helps kids with math skills. 

Coding requires kids to think about quantities and measurements in a way that verbal descriptions don’t. This is something that’s difficult for many young people, which is why it becomes easy for them to confuse words like “more” or “less.” 

– Coding improves writing academic performance. 

Kids who learn how to code do better than their peers when they write essays. This is because the process of coding has taught them how to organize and break down information into chunks based on logical patterns so as not to be overwhelmed by any task at hand.  

– Coding helps kids become confident problem solvers.

Learning coding requires kids to solve problems all the time. The more experience they gain, the better problem solvers they become.

To find out more, join us for a free trial class for a fun-filled experience!

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The Importance of Technology… and Coding

 

COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point—and transformed business forever. Digital adoption has taken a quantum leap at both the organizational and industry levels. More so than ever, the understanding of technology is paramount even to a lay man on the street.

As such, kids should learn coding, not just to aspire to be a programmer, but to have a better understanding of the technologies around them. The skills acquired through learning coding goes a long way as well.

Understanding machine operations, conditionals, and progression in coding projects strengthens logic. Being able to break down issues into small, separate parts and figure out how each is affecting the other will help kids think in a systematic and objective way, rather than relying on solving problems emotionally.

In The Lab Singapore, we teach kids coding but focus strongly on learning through play to make it fun and enjoyable for them. Play is far more powerful for children, than many parents realize. It is the key to learning. Researchers and educators across the world have found that play can help enrich learning and develop key skills such as inquiry, expression, experimentation, and teamwork.

Our goal at The Lab is to help students learn to ask questions, express themselves, collaborate with others, and take creative risks. We also want them to retain their natural curiosity and to never lose the excitement of learning something new. All those things are achieved by making learning fun for children.

To find out more about us and the team, visit our website at www.thelab.sg!

 

 

 

 

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How can The Lab Singapore help in my child’s DSA application?

 

Meet Jay!

He used coding as one of his talent areas for his DSA application into SST (School of Science and Technology). Jay started coding at a very young age and is one of the pioneer students of The Lab Singapore.

Throughout his journey with us, Jay has collected several achievements which serves well for his DSA portfolio.

Here are some of the activities that we provide to create a comprehensive portfolio for your child:

Project-based curriculum for all students

One of the key focuses of the curriculum is the ability of students to apply and abstract programming concepts that they have learnt. This is done through the completion of a project or projects before graduating from a The Lab program.

Project based learning encourages students to develop a balanced, diverse approach to solving real-world problems. Studies have shown that project-based learning is linked to significant improvements in student test scores, attendance, and classroom engagement.

Monthly awards for students 10-16 years old

The Lab Singapore has several internal awards for a student to be placed on the leaderboard. We conduct monthly coding competitions and several merit awards such as The Fastest Coder, The Best Project and The Best Code awards for your child to collect while having fun coding with us!

Annual The Lab Hackathon for students 10-16 years old

The Lab Singapore has more than 500 students. Because we are that big, our internal competitions are highly prestigious. We organized an internal hackathon for students in The Lab 10-16 years old program in June so that students can display their coding prowess and exhibit enhance teamwork and collaborative skills amongst members.

Annual International/National Competitions for students 7 years old and above

For students who are below 12 years old:

For students who have completed The Lab 10-16 years old Advanced program: The Lab Singapore introduced a Competitive Programming Course for students who are serious in uplifting their coding skills. The course is focused on participation in international competitions. The preparation work is highly intensive, and students are required to commit between 6 – 9 months.

Letter of Recommendation

The Lab Singapore provides a letter of recommendation and consolidates the list of achievements done by your child throughout his/her coding journey with us.

Join us for a free trial class now.

Register @ www.thelab.sg!

 

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