Empire Code | Education Blog | Sharing Our Daily Challenges As Educators

Should my Child do DSA?

With the world becoming increasingly digitized, this has made coding one of the essential skills of the 21st century. As a result, parents have started introducing coding, robotics and STEM activities for students from as young as 3.

You may also have heard of the term “DSA” (Direct Schools Admissions), through schools or fellow parents. As more students develop an interest for Computer Science from a younger age, there are now options to apply to preferred secondary schools via technology-related talent areas including coding, robotics, innovation, electronics, STEM and much more. Such schools aim to nurture an environment for such students to grow their talent and interest through weekly training, and representation of their schools in national or international competitions.

How do I prepare my child for a DSA application?

There are 3 key requirements schools will look for in an application, namely: good competition experience, a personalized portfolio, and a well-prepared interview. These are all important external key areas that will definitely affect the success of your child’s DSA application. However, beyond the documents that you need to submit, I would like to share three essential criteria that you will need to consider before you decide to apply through the DSA route.

1. Interest/Passion

DSA is a program that aims to recognise students with not just talent, but also a strong interest in a specific area that will be developed through the school’s programs. Some schools even curate CCAs specifically for DSA students. Thus, the most important factor to consider is your child’s passion and level of interest in an area. Whether it be coding or robotics, successful DSA students share the same traits: they are passionate, ambitious and independent learners with a curious mind.

Here are some questions to think about before committing your child to a DSA program:

1. Is my child consistently motivated to come for class, or does he/she find ways to avoid coming to class?

2. Does my child show enthusiasm to practice his/her codes at home?

3. Is my child excited about the learning process, and out of curiosity, create his/her own apps or programs at home?

If a child is accepted through DSA for a certain talent track, there is a rather high level of commitment to undertake to the school; Therefore, it is important to have an open discussion with your child regarding their interests and area of pursuit. At day’s end, we want the children to find purpose and success in the DSA area they are keen to apply for.

2. Attitude

The mindset of the child is one of the most important characteristics that DSA schools look out for in their pool of applicants. As much as DSA schools are looking for talented individuals with sky high grades or amazing portfolios, they also look at whether your child has good character, is a team player, and has the willingness to learn.

While medals and certificates can be reflectors of success; A key indicator of “success” is also reflected in their attitude, level of perseverance, and their progress in an area overtime. Perhaps, they have made a statement such as, “I managed to do this today, I want to continue and try that next.” This is a sign that the child finds meaning in the activity and is motivated to take this further.” – Mr Chia, Cedar Girls’ Secondary School (DSA Social Innovation)

This will be shown in their assessments or interviews. Some schools will ask a group of applicants to work together in a team to discuss a certain topic, or create a certain robot according to the problem statement provided. The panelists will then be able to gauge your child’s level of perseverance, their capacity to work in a team, alongside important attributes such as logical & critical thinking skills- factors necessary for a successful DSA application.

3. Aptitude

It is important to note that DSA is a very competitive program, with only 10% of DSA students getting their preferred slot through DSA for the past few years. The number of DSA students are also predicted to increase in the upcoming years. The secondary schools will choose the best students, whom they feel will represent their school in the best way possible, in the respective talent areas. Thus, it is important to consider your child’s aptitude, before deciding whether they should apply for DSA.

After discussions with your child, and if you feel that he/she has the interest, attitude and aptitude for a DSA route, the Empire Code DSA team will work together with you to curate a personalized portfolio for your child’s application to the school. We are also able to provide many opportunities through projects and competitions that will give your child real-world experience and a chance to apply what they have learnt in the classroom as well. Furthermore, we aim to provide a safe space for your child to learn, develop their interest, and grow through mistakes throughout their DSA application process. Register for a free DSA consultation now at: https://empirecode.co/dsa/.

To celebrate the new school year 2023, we are pleased to offer a $50 off your first DSA Package. WhatsApp us on +65 8145 5004 for a free consultation and mention our special code DSA50!

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Coding, Robotics and STEM

In the last few years, the terms “Coding”, “Robotics” and “STEM” have become ubiquitous, and you’ve likely heard of it one way or another. With the rise of technology in the digital age, along with the plethora of coding and robotics enrichment programmes, the common question is “What’s the difference between these fields? Is it useful for my child’s educational journey?”. This post aims to share the key differences between coding, robotics and STEM, its crucial role in ensuring technical literacy, and how they can benefit your child’s education.

First off, what is Coding?

Coding is a language – we tell computers what to do using codes. You’ve probably heard of Python or Javascript, which are called syntax programming. In this current age, coding has been simplified, so that children as young as 4 can grasp the concepts with ease. Known as block-based programming, it aims to introduce computational thinking to very young learners, (thus building on their foundations), so that their progress to syntax programming at a later age (text-based languages), will be a more fluid process.

If you have heard of Scratch (the popular MIT software with the orange cat as its beloved mascot), it is a popular example of block-based programming. Children learn how to create their own animations and mini-games through dragging and dropping the code blocks. In addition to learning the various coding concepts, their brains are trained to think logically, computationally, and critically. We also teach students how to debug their codes independently; this stimulates the different areas of the brain, where they are trained to solve problems creatively, and view the obstacles through different lenses. For younger learners, progression from block-based programming such as Tynker and Scratch, is transitioned to game development modules such as Minecraft Education Edition, and Roblox Game Development; from here, students would then progress to more complex text-based programming languages like Python and C++. These languages open up a wide array of career opportunities – from web and app development to data science and machine learning.

Then, how about Robotics?

What comes to your mind when you first hear the term robotics? For most people, it is LEGO. However, robotics goes beyond just building a prototype. Robotics deal with designing and building robots, and utilisation of various sensors and motors, for optimal functioning. These sensors and motors are usually connected to a device, in which students learn programming to control the robots to create an action, so as to respond to a certain input. Hence, the line between coding and robotics is sometimes a bit gray. The main difference is that coding is mainly based on software, but robotics includes both software and hardware. However, both of these fields fall and interact under the STEM category.

What is STEM?

STEM (or STEAM) is an interdisciplinary teaching approach that unites the disciplines of science, technology, engineering (art,), and math into a single program. Although it emphasizes heavily on science and math, STEM is a very broad umbrella of different programs with the same goal – to provide students with engaging and hands-on methods of learning to develop science and math-based skills, so that they can gain 21st century skills such as communication, critical thinking, computational thinking, problem solving, and most importantly, contribute to a technologically-driven society.

Hence, coding and robotics also fall under this STEM category. Math and Science can be integrated into game development platforms as well as robotics. For example, you can learn chemistry concepts in Minecraft: Education Edition using their chemistry lab. Minecraft provides a variety of chemicals that work the same way as the real world, which allows for students to learn science concepts in a more fun and engaging way. In the same way, you can use LEGO SPIKE Prime (robotics) to create a robot that transfers energy from one place to another. Such projects also integrate engineering and science concepts, which are part of the school curriculum.

In other words, STEM education aims to go beyond the traditional academic approach and provides students the tools and opportunities to apply what they have learnt to solve real-world problems. For example, instead of learning the instructions for creating a robot, and the geography and physics of an earthquake, STEM education allows students to apply the knowledge to create an earthquake simulator using LEGO, for example, and tests how much force is required to make a LEGO brick house fall down. Projects like these allow students to use cross-disciplinary knowledge (from coding, to robotics and engineering) to solve problems creatively (for example, how can we make the foundation of the house stronger, so as to withstand the force of an earthquake).

Not sure where to start?

It depends on your child’s preference. Some students prefer robotics due to its hands-on learning nature, where they can see the physical result of their projects immediately. Coding, on the other hand, is intangible. However, you can create your own websites, analyze real-world data, and design your own mobile apps and games. Both of these disciplines still have the same goals in mind – to teach students the necessary 21st century skills and prepare them for the digitized future ahead of them.

In Empire Code, we offer modules across these different disciplines. You can let your child try out coding and robotics through our free trial classes. Contact us at +65 8154 5004 to find out more!

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A Parent’s Guide to DSA – How to Prepare Your Kids Better for Secondary School Applications

Does your child have a talent or interest for sports, music, leadership or coding? The Direct School Admission Programme might be the key pathway to expand your child’s talent and get into specialized schools at the same time. It allows students to apply to secondary schools based on outstanding performance in both academic or non-academic talent areas (eg. sports, music, etc.). Schools that are under the DSA track offer special clubs to cater to the students’ talent areas and foster their growth. Whether it is through weekly training, or representing the school in competitions, the schools provide DSA students with various opportunities to grow and compete in both national and international competitions.

Furthermore, with the implementation of the new PSLE scoring system, the DSA route has proved to be a popular choice amongst parents. Due to the rising competition amongst PSLE students to secure a slot in their preferred secondary schools, parents are more likely to opt for the DSA scheme. Here are the 5 primary things you need to know about the DSA programme:

How do you prepare your kids better for DSA applications?

The best advice that we can give is to start planning early. If your child is considering applying to a secondary school via the DSA route, it is better to start planning and compiling his/her portfolio early. DSA is not just an accumulation of certificates and result slips, but it is a proper compilation of different school and non-school related achievements, competitions and projects. In 2022, out of 37,095 students sitting for PSLE, there were 31,800 DSA applications from 12,200 students, across talent areas with 3,900 successfully getting their secondary school slots. Hence, DSA applications should be carefully prepared in order to increase your child’s chances to go to his/her preferred secondary schools.

Through the Empire Code DSA program, we offer DSA preparation programme in areas such as coding, robotics, STEM, innovation and many more. Our programme consists of creating a customized roadmap for your child, 1 to 1 consultations, progress reports, portfolio compilation, student testimonies and so forth. The school’s program aims to ensure that students are well prepared before they apply for DSA in Primary 6. The DSA application journey is also designed to ensure that students enjoy and have fun learning through the process as well. If interested, contact us here to register for a free DSA consultation.

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Coding Escape Room Reflections from Sherine

Hello! It’s me again, Sherine. Today, I’m here to share my reflections not as a marketer, or preschool teacher (see our previous blog), but as an Escape Room host.

Look at the happy faces of our students receiving their Halloween goodie bags and 3D printed pumpkins and ghosts!

This Halloween 2022, we had a blast with our students dressing up as various characters. Some students even deliberately attended lessons on a weekend, just so they could wear their costumes! In addition to this, our popular coding Escape Rooms have returned! Our last coding escape room took place just before COVID, so we are delighted to reinstate this after a 2-year hiatus.

This year’s theme was “Potter’s Escape”. The theme revolved around the story of Harry Potter, in which the students needed to solve a series of coding challenges to escape from the dungeons of ‘He-who-must-not-be-named’. This escape room included various tasks that required computational, innovative and critical thinking. We included challenges that were beyond what the students learnt in their usual lessons. For example, the first task was: “How to think like a computer”. We gave the students a series of 0’s and 1’s (a language the computer understands) and asked them to solve the code to unlock the next stage. Not only that, we also introduced them to Python Turtle as the last and hardest task. Since most of our students (ages 7 to 10) only have experience with block programming, this was their first exposure to syntax programming.

Despite the challenges, the students were very proactive and found many different creative ways to solve the task. They were able to apply what they had learnt in class to solve the challenges. Although we had only provided a brief explanation for the Python Turtle task, they were able to grasp the concepts quickly and solve the problems before time ran out. As computational thinking is classified as one of the most valuable 21st century skills, I was pleasantly surprised to see children of this generation developing these important skills from such a young age. They have developed a curious and innovative mindset – one that is intrigued by challenging tasks, as they come up with innovative ways to solve them. With more guidance and suitable challenges, they will be able to improve their coding and computational skills in no time!

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Sherine’s ‘Cubetto’ Experience

When I recounted my first teaching experience at a Singapore preschool to Felicia, she laughed for a good 30 minutes straight.

Hello everybody! I am Sherine, Empire Code’s Sales and Marketing Executive. Aside from my marketing job, Felicia has graciously given me the opportunity to teach as well. My first teaching experience, however, was quite hilarious. I was trained to teach Cubetto for kids as young as 3. Cubetto teaches children programming using a cute little robot, with zero screen time. It is a play-based brain development programme that targets left and right brain training for early childhood.

Last month, a local preschool invited us to conduct a Cubetto workshop for a class of 9-10 kids ages 3 & 4. I was sent to teach as a main trainer, along with one of my colleagues. I was nervous, since it was the first time I was teaching a very big group of kids and was concerned about engaging such a large group. Hence, I did what I could do to prepare – I braided my hair into pigtails to manifest my inner child, prepared a skit, and made sure my voice was on bubbly mode. The first half of the session went wonderfully well – the kids were interested in their new robot friend, and everyone had fun learning to code the robot using the play-based blocks whilst solving the simple missions given to them.

However, it all went downhill just before the class ended. As they are still very young, their attention span was, of course, limited. That was when everything else became more fun and interesting in comparison to Cubetto… and that included me 🙂

They started to remove my pigtails (I spent 10 minutes braiding my hair), and claimed they would wash my hair using the teddy bear props used for Cubetto’s missions. This was followed by multiple attempts to tie my hair, soap my hair and a pretend hair spa experience, acted out collectively by a group of excited preschoolers, as they clung to my arms at various points.

I tried (very hard) to get them to focus and complete the rest of Cubetto’s missions, but it was in vain. I sent a “help me” look to my colleague, as well as the teachers in Eton House, but they found it so funny they just laughed along with the kids. At the end of the session, my hair was, well, all over the floor. Funnily enough, one of the kids had the audacity to ask me, “Teacher, why did you lose so much hair?”, while I looked on with disbelief.

As I reminisce about this incident, I cannot help but laugh. It was an interesting teaching experience at a preschool, coupled with some hair loss. I have gained a profound respect for early childhood educators. Whether it was Cubetto or the faux hair spa experience, the kids loved the trial lesson, and we were invited to return to conduct a full holiday camp for them.

My boss, Felicia, decided it was a good idea to send me there again to teach…..well I guess I shall wear a cap….

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What is the Metaverse?

Ever wondered why Facebook suddenly changed its name to Meta? From the words of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook has rebranded to align with the upcoming concept of “metaverse” – the future of the internet. He stated, “Meta is a way to bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities and grow businesses”. In simpler words, the metaverse will herald a new era of online interaction.

What is the metaverse exactly? And why is it the buzz word today?

Our world is continuously evolving. Prior to the birth of the world wide web, there was no standard way to communicate between various computer networks. Therefore, the birth of the internet in the 1990s symbolized a breakthrough for mankind, as we had access to people on a global scale, and had freedom to initiate collaborative activities through a computer. The internet then continued to evolve, emerging new breakthroughs and trends. The metaverse could be the new paradigm where our physical and online lives unite. Today, we describe the metaverse as a combination of both virtual and augmented reality where we can immersively interact with all sorts of environments and avatars beyond our imagination, in the comforts of our homes.

The term “metaverse” isn’t actually as new as you thought. It was inspired by a dystopian sci-fi book written by Neal Stephenson back in the early 1990s titled “Snow Crash”. The book depicted a story of people exploring an immersive online, digital world through digital avatars of themselves. Using virtual reality technology, these avatars can attend concerts, buy bread from bakeries, visit amusement parks and walk down the streets in the virtual world. Furthermore, the avatars were the means of communication between the people in the real world.

One of the agents of the metaverse is Roblox – the online platform that allows digital creators to develop their own games and play games created by other users. The infrastructure of the virtual world created by Roblox closely mimics our physical lives. Hence, it quickly became one of the most significant sources of interaction and entertainment for young people. Through their own avatars, they can play games, attend concerts and travel to places with other people (avatars) in the comfort of their homes. During the pandemic, statistics showed that Roblox became the third highest grossing game of the year. Now, there are other big companies that also integrate the concept of metaverse, including Unity, Gacha games and Nvidia. Some companies are even incorporating NFTs or Bitcoin into their gaming platforms.

What is currently happening in the metaverse?

“For technophiles, the metaverse represents a nirvana: a place to immerse yourself in any digital world, and participate in any physical reality, at any time – and also to be able to see and feel anything, even if you are thousands of miles away from that real place.” – The Economic Times 2020

Well, since the metaverse allows us to do real-world activities in an immersive virtual environment, an individual can now create, buy and sell goods through the metaverse. In the physical world, you can buy clothes and wear them to a concert with your friends. The metaverse allows you to do the same – buying virtual clothes for your avatars and buying tickets to the concert, all within the digital space.

Currently, many established brands such as Adidas, Samsung and JP Morgan are buying virtual retail estate land in top virtual worlds such as Sandbox and Decentraland in the metaverse. In recent months, a piece of “land” was sold for $4.3 million and another piece of digital estate was sold for $2.4 million. Even more recently, a virtual Gucci bag was sold for USD $4115, even more than the real-life bag. Fascinating, isn’t it? Content creators can now construct their own virtual goods and virtual environments, monetizing their content through currencies such as NFTs.

In conclusion, the metaverse will impact us more than we think. It will affect how we travel, shop, communicate and most importantly, learn.

Is Roblox the future of education?

Like how this video uses Roblox to teach about the metaverse, students and teachers can also adopt Roblox as a platform to create and access educational content. Children can now study at their own pace, and even expand their horizons beyond the traditional curriculum. They can also create teaching content in the Roblox marketplace in return for cash. Moreover, the Roblox platform focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects instead of the generalized traditional curriculum. Therefore, students that study through Roblox can gain much more skills and attract more job opportunities in the market, especially in the STEM sector.

*See more: Digitalization: From Optional to Necessity article*

References:

A brief metaverse history: From where it started, to today. Parker Software. (2022, March 31). Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://www.parkersoftware.com/blog/a-brief-metaverse-history-from-where-it-started-to-today/

Frank Palermo, V. (2022, March 19). What you need to know about the state of the metaverse Today. VentureBeat. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://venturebeat.com/2022/03/19/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-state-of-the-metaverse-today/#:~:text=The%20metaverse%20will%20be%20a,digital%20and%20online%20lives%20converge

Frey, T., & *, N. (2021, September 16). The history of the metaverse. Futurist Speaker. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://futuristspeaker.com/future-trends/the-history-of-the-metaverse/

How the metaverse future may look like in 2030. The Economic Times. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/cryptocurrency/how-the-metaverse-future-may-look-like-in-2030/articleshow/91175337.cms

Introduction to metaverse – the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the metaverse, Web3 and NFT. Citi says the metaverse economy could be worth $13 trillion by 2030! (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://www.aventis.edu.sg/metaverse?gclid=CjwKCAjw14uVBhBEEiwAaufYx6FEJP2CXhrjTothLG_9k3_StoriFajKbwaUfEzw6t4UKAwwbxoiPxoCNDQQAvD_BwE

Ravenscraft, E. (2021, November 25). What is the metaverse, exactly? Wired. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/

Schwab, K. (2021, March 29). ‘Roblox’ isn’t just a gaming company. it’s also the future of Education. Fast Company. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from https://www.fastcompany.com/90619108/roblox-future-of-education

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Early Tech Education – Why do kids need to learn coding from a young age?

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the demand for software developers and technological experts are on the rise. Coding is now a key skill for future careers, and computational thinking is classified as one of the most valuable 21st century skills that children will need to be equipped with. Apart from the Tech industry, many professions ranging from accounting to medicine are already becoming more reliant on computer code.

Firstly, what exactly is coding?

Put simply, coding allows users to communicate with a computer. It is like learning another language, a language with a series of 0’s 1’s and different commands that the computer understands to perform specific functions. Coding enables people to do almost anything – it provides one with the freedom to create their own softwares, apps, websites and video games. It can also be used to automate processes, increasing the overall efficiency of businesses – and life in general. Hence, learning coding provides children with relevant and transferable skills, and trains them to develop a problem-solving mindset from an early age. Children who know how to code will also get a headstart with more employment opportunities set aside for them in the future. No matter the industry, companies look out for new hires with relevant computer science skills.

Introducing coding to kids whilst their brains are still developing allows them to develop a critical thinking and problem-solving mindset. Here are 3 main reasons why kids need to learn coding from a young age:

1. Coding trains communication and logical thinking

Coding teaches children another language. Language allows children to communicate properly and trains verbal and written skills. Like English or Chinese, coding is actually a language on its own. When children learn how to communicate with computers, they understand better why and how the gadgets and technology operate around them. They will get exposure to understanding the logical thinking behind the technology that they are using.

2. Children become efficient problem solvers

Understanding the basics of computer science allows children to appreciate how technology works around them. It fosters their creativity, logical and critical thinking. Learning to code teaches children how to think, not to just type lines of codes. In order to create an effective program, a programmer needs to think logically. They have to be able to break a large problem into smaller pieces and solve it in the most effective way possible. Hence, this allows children to be creative in exploring different options to solve problems as well. Creating a program or a game from scratch allows children the freedom to use their imagination, both to create the program and solve any bugs that come along the way. These skills not only lay the foundation for innovation, design thinking and leadership, but they also train kids to have a questioning mindset – one that encourages experimentation, a curiosity of how things work, and gives them the grit to explore challenging ideas. This allows kids to be creative innovators of the next generation.

3. Coding challenges children and helps them develop resilience

“ A computer is a bicycle for your mind” – Steve Jobs

In computer science, constantly failing with your code is entirely acceptable. There will always be bugs and mishaps that come along with your code. However, kids who learn coding from a young age develop a resilient mindset, and hence, are trained to view failures as opportunities for growth. As such, they develop greater ‘bounce’, are not afraid of challenges, and are far better at finding good solutions.

So, when is the right time to teach kids coding?

Being heavy consumers of technology, whether it’s watching Youtube or playing video games, children are already exposed to technology from a young age. Schools are also integrating coding and digital literacy as part of their curriculums. While such an early exposure might seem odd, Stack Overflow 2020 Developer’s survey results show that many kids start learning coding from as young as 3. In the future, coding is increasingly becoming a critical tenent of modern education.

Furthermore, coding teaches kids computational thinking. To put it simply, kids learn how to think efficiently like a computer. Hence, children gain a better understanding of algorithmic thinking patterns and logical thinking, which translate to a positive impact in their performance in both mathematics and science. With coding, kids can also learn to solve complex math and science problems in a more fun and engaging way. They can apply computer science principles and develop strong STEM skills to make them more future-ready.

I want my kids to be exposed to coding, but where do I start?

Sign up for FREE trials during our TechKids Open Day on 10 September 2022 and turn your children from passive technology consumers into innovative creators!

References:

https://www.learningresources.com/blog/5reasonskidscoding#:~:text=Coding%20is%20a%20basic%20literacy,math%2C%20writing%2C%20and%20confidence.

https://teachyourkidscode.com/why-coding-is-important-to-learn/

https://techbootcamps.utexas.edu/blog/why-kids-should-learn-to-code/

https://funtech.co.uk/latest/why-coding-is-important-for-kids-7-reasons-all-parents-should-know

https://elearningindustry.com/k12-computer-science-coding-imagination

Top 5 Benefits of Coding for Kids

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Empire Code Educational Series: Fool-proof your child’s future with Python

Gone are the days when coding was just the sole domain for programmers and software engineers- In our world today, coding is a useful skill for any career, hence an increasing trend for kids to pick up coding skills from a young age. You might have seen countless articles about how beneficial coding is for kids, or the increasing demand for programmers in the job market today. Now, you might have made up your mind to decide to enroll your child in a coding course, but where do you start?

Given the plethora of programming languages, figuring out which one to learn can be a challenge. Especially for kids with no coding experience, the language that they choose is crucial for their learning pathway. Out of the various coding languages, we strongly recommend kids learn Python. Python programming for kids can be a great stepping stone to turning an interest in coding into a passion.

So, what is Python?

Developed in the late 1980s by Guido Van Rossum, Python is a programming language used for software engineering. This program runs on the server, acting as a bridge between the user and the computer. It processes the logic behind user inputs and gives instructions that machines can understand. Unlike other programming languages such as C++ or Java, Python is modelled after the English language, making it easier to learn and grasp concepts. It is child-friendly and a good starting coding language to embark on a coding education. Furthermore, Python is very universal and versatile, proving its use in machine learning, data analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI).

From a survey by CodingNomands in 2022, Python has been ranked as the most in-demand coding language for 2022. It has also taken the top spot for the most loved programming language, following JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and SQL according to the 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.

“While Python has been around for decades, the demand for Python skills in 2022 will continue growing exponentially thanks to its use in the booming industries of data science, machine learning, and AI. In addition, Python is considered one of the easiest, most powerful, and most versatile languages to learn, making it popular amongst companies, developers, and aspiring developers” said CodingNomads’ co-founder and lead instructor, Ryan Desmond.

5 reasons why kids should learn Python

1. Simple syntax

Every programming language is unique, with regards to syntax, grammatical structures, rules, etc. It is similar to learning a whole different language and vocabulary list. Embarking on your coding journey, you would prefer to start with a language that is not complex or too tough with the rules. Python language offers a very easy and user-friendly syntax compared to other coding languages such as Java or C++. Even without prior coding knowledge, coding concepts in Python are relatively easier to grasp as it is modelled after the English language in terms of reading and writing. Hence, it offers a much easier learning curve for those who want to get started with coding. Furthermore, Python has an abundance of frameworks and libraries, such as NumPy, Pandas, Bokeh, and many more, allowing kids to learn and simplify tasks effectively.

2. Versatility

Like a Swiss Army pocket knife, Python is not just tied to one domain, but it can be used in many different applications. Python is a general-purpose programming language that offers many different features and packages, thus used in different disciplines such as data science, AI, machine learning, web development, product development, and many more. It is therefore a necessary skill that can be learnt by all people, not just software engineers and cybersecurity experts. Even in seemingly unrelated disciplines such as medicine, robots used in surgeries are programmed by Python.

3. Increasing demand and popularity

The future for Python programming definitely looks promising. Being a highly user-oriented and open-source language, Python is the heart behind some of the world’s biggest applications, including AI, robotics, and virtual reality. Therefore, many people (from kids to working adults) are taking up coding bootcamps and online crash courses to learn Python to improve their skills. With regards to job prospects, Indeed statistics (2019) has shown that Java, Python, JavaScript, and C++ are among the top skills that employers are looking for. Worldwide companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix, and many more are among those with the most Python developer job postings. Therefore, although it might be too early for your child to think of career prospects now, it is a definite guarantee that Python can take you to many places, and you won’t be short of any job opportunities!

4. Improves critical and logical thinking

Coding doesn’t just train children to be fluent in programming but also trains them to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. Tasked with a problem to solve, children can be trained to be patient in coming up with a solution and think critically as to how to solve it in the most effective way. Moreover, coming up with a solution through coding isn’t easy! Bugs will definitely be in the way, but this trains children to apply logic to solve problems creatively, improving overall academic performance and learning.

5. Huge supportive community among Python developers

Python has been around for three decades, and there is a dedicated user community of Python developers. This community consists of developers coming from different backgrounds and skill levels, and they create various tips, hacks, tutorials, guides, and many more to get you started on your coding journey. With just one click, you can get access to many different youtube tutorials created by this community. Furthermore, the active Python community is designed to collaborate and help each other to come up with effective and innovative solutions to different problems.

Python is currently the most widely used programming language in 2021 and this trend will continue. Future-proof your child for the 2020s and join our Python Camps today!

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Empire Code Educational Series- Competitions for Children: Myths & Benefits

Competition is present in every aspect of our lives. There is always a debate about whether competitions are useful for education and learning. To some, it is deemed unhealthy, due to the overwhelming pressure that it imposes on kids. This can be true at times, especially when there is overwhelming focus on the idea of winning. This article aims to debunk some of the myths surrounding competitions and explore their importance in contributing to learning.

Myth 1: Competition is the antonym of collaboration

Competing with other people doesn’t always mean that you are ‘defeating’ others to win. Well-structured and healthy competitions foster collaboration and teamwork to solve problems. Taking on challenging tasks as a team trains communication and teamwork skills in children, and teaches them how to work with people with different skill sets. They learn to add value to one another, extend grace when a mistake is made, and try to find solutions together as a team.

Myth 2: Competition will degrade my child’s self-esteem if he/she loses

How about we try to look at this from a different angle? Firstly, competitions are a great avenue for children to understand what they’re good at and what they like. It also provides many opportunities for children to showcase their skills through solving challenging missions and tasks.

Secondly, competition exposes children to experience uncertainty and failure, which they will eventually experience at a point in their lives. Thus, such experiences allow them to understand that failure is not a bad thing, but their response to failure is what matters. Instead of being fixated on the outcome of failure, competitions can teach kids to see value in the process and their growth rather than the results. Healthy competitions aim to provide such platforms for children to keep failing and keep trying, hoping to increase their willingness to venture into new ideas, expand their creativity and cultivate resilience- the very traits which foster success.

Myth 3: My child learns enough in school, so competitions are not important for his/her future

Although lessons and tests in school do improve learning and the acquisition of knowledge, this traditional method of learning reduces opportunities for children to think critically. Such passive learning styles can build up bad habits of plainly memorizing content to achieve good grades. Hence, in situations that require students to think, they will tend to expect someone to tell them what to do instead of analyzing the situation and coming up with a proper solution. In competitions where children are exposed to problems, it challenges them to take ownership of the problem and critically think of appropriate solutions.

Benefits of participating in competitions

Aside from critical thinking and problem-solving skills, being involved in many competitions also builds up soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and organizational skills that are beneficial for the future. Applying knowledge learnt in the classrooms and extending it to solve real-life problems also strengthens memory and learning capacity. Such skills prepare children for the real world.

Another plus point of competition is that it is very valuable in applying for schools and jobs. Recruiters value soft skills beyond the number of As on one’s report card, and such skills can be shown through being involved in competitions. Whether it’s your response in dealing with a problematic team member or solving an extremely difficult challenge, such experiences prove to recruiters that one has more positive traits they can bring to the job role, beyond just studying and getting good grades.

How we view competitions at Empire Code

At Empire Code, we strongly encourage our students to take part in competitions to gain exposure, build on their skills and boost their DSA portfolio. We train students how to cultivate good sportsmanship, think critically and work with people of different skills and backgrounds. Taking into consideration the risks of competition, we always tell our students that their growth process is more important than just bringing trophies home. We ensure that such values are communicated to our students every time they join competitions. At the end of the day, we will celebrate whether or not our students bring home a trophy!

Join our upcoming competitions and train with us now!

References

10 Ways Competitions Enhance Learning: Institute of Competition Sciences. Institute of Competition Sciences | The Home of Challenge Based Learning. (2017, November 17). Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.competitionsciences.org/2016/07/04/10-ways-competitions-enhance-learning/

Gordon, S. (2020, September 17). Is competition a good thing or a bad thing? Verywell Family. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.verywellfamily.com/competition-among-kids-pros-and-cons-4177958

Make The Change. (2021, February 23). 5 benefits of joining Youth Competitions. Make The Change. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.makethechange.sg/post/5-benefits-of-joining-youth-competitions

McGuinness, D. (n.d.). Why competition is good for kids (and how to keep it that way). Parents. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.parents.com/kids/development/social/why-competition-is-good-for-kids-and-how-to-keep-it-that-way/

Why competition is good for students. MindChamps. (2020, June 9). Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.mindchamps.org/blog/why-competition-good-for-students/

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Empire Code Educational Series: What Parents can do about Roblox Safety Concerns.

A few parents have voiced concerns over the safety issues surrounding the Roblox platform for their kids. Sherine and myself have decided to address the concerns in this post.

Often known as an imagination platform for kids, Roblox is now one of the most popular games for children. During the pandemic, Roblox has seen millions of users added to its platform, of which 67% of those are under 16. Therefore, there is a high chance that your child might already have a Roblox app installed on one of his/her devices.

So what makes Roblox so attractive to children?

Unlike Minecraft, Roblox not only provides a free online gaming platform, but it allows users to design their games. Currently, there are around 40,000 games in the Roblox platform created by amateur creators. This platform encourages young digital creators to create, customize, collaborate and successfully publish their games:

1. Creating – Roblox studio tools are easy and friendly for new coders to create games. Players have the freedom to let their imaginations run wild and make it come to life. For example, kids can create their own dream house or compete in a racing game that they have created. Additionally, in the process of building their games, they are learning how to code, which is a useful skill as the world is becoming more and more digitalized.

2. Customizing – Kids can freely customize their avatars and update their games according to their interests!

3. Community – Having the perks of a global online learning platform, Roblox connects millions of users around the world to collaborate, create and play together. With a never-ending supply of games on the platform, people can challenge each other or engage in teams to complete quests and missions. Especially during the pandemic, Roblox users can utilize this platform to socialize and play with other like-minded people.

However, despite the attractiveness of Roblox, these multiplayer games are still subjected to risks of exposure to sexual and violent content. Recently, BBC News reported an incident of sexual content in Roblox games where avatars were seen to engage in virtual sexual activities. This has caused parents worldwide to grapple with the concern of whether Roblox is safe for kids.

Knowing this, what is Roblox doing to address safety concerns?

Firstly, Roblox uses both AI and a human review team consisting of 2300 people to monitor the game contents. These systems serve to filter out inappropriate chat behaviour and monitor the safety of the games in multiple languages. They keep an eye out for individuals who are misleading users into clicking external restricted links or sharing personal information.

Additionally, they are continuously developing improved parental controls to help protect kids against violent and sexual content. They also have age verification tools and filters catered to different age groups to restrict who children can interact with, and which experiences they can access.

What can you do as a parent?

1. Set your child’s birthdate under 13 to automatically activate content filtering. For users under 13, Roblox automatically blocks inappropriate content (ex. violent or adult scenes) and prohibits the posting of personal information.

2. Set native parental controls. As a parent, you can use these controls to curate your kids’ content and create a list of age-appropriate games. The controls can also be restricted using a PIN code to prevent your child from altering it themselves.

3. Restrict your child’s correspondence to only approved friends in the game. Alternatively, join our Empire Code Roblox Group where we connect Empire Code students with each other.

4. Block or report disruptive players.

5. Do not save credit card information inside your child’s game because Roblox has a lot of pop-up ads to buy Robux. I have a friend who had to cough up EUR 1,500 for her daughter’s purchases via her credit card.

6. Play with your kids! By playing together, you can get a better understanding of Roblox, get to know what kind of games your kids like, the content that they are being exposed to, and most importantly educate them to never share personal information or click on suspicious links online.

Incidents can be minimized if parents are involved in regulating their child’s content, thus making Roblox a safe gaming platform for kids. Roblox has a wide range of benefits to offer as it teaches kids coding, game design, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills – skills that are useful for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math! Interested to find out more about our Roblox classes? Find out more HERE.

References:

Is Roblox safe for kids? A guide for parents and families. Bark. (2021, October 6). Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.bark.us/blog/is-roblox-safe-for-kids/

Is Roblox safe for kids? app safety guide for parents. Qustodio. (2021, October 19). Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.qustodio.com/en/2021/05/23/is-roblox-safe-for-kids-app-safety-guide-for-parents/

Maressa Brown By Maressa Brown January 25, 2021. (n.d.). Is roblox safe for kids? Parents. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.parents.com/kids/safety/internet/is-roblox-safe-for-kids/

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Empire Code Educational Series- Competitions for Children: Myths & Benefits

Empire Code Educational Series: What Parents can do about Roblox Safety Concerns.