Coding, the process of programming a computer to perform tasks, promotes computational thinking, which helps your child to tackle complex problems by breaking them down into smaller manageable sequences. Even if your child never becomes a professional software engineer or app developer, learning coding is an extremely useful skill to have as its fundamental principles will help them solve problems in almost any subject in school, and in life.

 

Coding – The New Literacy

The world is becoming more digitally entrenched by the day. To thrive, young children must learn to design, create and express themselves with digital technologies. It is a new literacy that is essential for career pathways in the ever-growing sectors of software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and robotics.

In 2014, at the launch of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, PM Lee said, “We must get our children in schools exposed to IT, exposed to programming. It is a long way for us, but in some countries, all kids are required to learn to code, at least the basics.”

The government also launched the Code@SG movement to nurture interest in technology among young Singaporeans and to continue developing coding and computational thinking as a national capability.

Benefits Of Text-Based Coding

It is important to make a distinction between text-based coding and graphics-based coding. Also known as block-based coding, graphics-based coding is a drag-and-drop approach that is used by schools and many enrichment centres as a way to introduce young children to coding.

Here at Duino Kids, we believe that text-based coding is the superior approach as it is the basic building blocks of coding used by professional programmers and it has no limitations on creativity unlike graphics-based coding which is dependent on pre-set coding blocks.

By learning the proper approach, children will acquire the strong foundation of being able to think through how to arrive at a desired outcome and the discipline to avoid and spot errors in spelling, correct letter casing and formatting, which would render their code unusable. In addition, your child’s ability to touch type will naturally improve as a consequence of working on the keyboard extensively!

Computational Thinking Skills For All School Subjects

By learning text-based coding, your child will acquire the following six computational thinking skills:

1. Logical Thinking – the rules of logic and cause and effect, when assimilated, will allow for more accurate results and conclusions
2. Algorithmic Thinking – the ability to arrive at a solution through clearly defined steps
3. Scientific Thinking – applying the scientific method of experimentation to form testable hypotheses, question ideas and determine if something is true
4. Conceptual Thinking – thinking at an abstract level and applying insights to any given situation which is an essential leadership skill
5. Solution-Based Thinking – involves evaluating a current problem or situation and determining reasonable, practical solutions for it
6. Innovation Thinking – coming up with new methods, ideas, or products

For children in school, four of these computational thinking skills; Logical, Algorithmic, Conceptual and Solution-Based Thinking, will directly aid them in Mathematics. What is more, all six computational thinking skills will enable your child to think through in a disciplined fashion, pay attention to fine detail, avoid making careless mistakes, and apply their creativity to solve complex problems in all their school subjects as well as beyond, in their daily life.

Computational thinking skills are transferable and when your child grows up, the skills can be applied across various fields ranging from engineering to finance, legal, marketing, corporate services, and scientific research, amongst many others.

Fun In Programming Micro Robots

Here at Duino Kids, your child will receive individual attention from our expert trainers – we have a low trainer-to-student ratio of 1 : 4. As text-based coding can be an intricate process, our trainers are patient and flexible. Students will be taught how to programme and download codes into the Wink, a 5cm by 5cm micro robot. Seeing these micro robots perform tasks in response to their codes is a great thrill for every child!

About Duino Kids

Duino Kids is a fun and interactive coding workshop for children aged 9 and above. It exposes children to text-based coding using the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

 

 

<Holiday Workshop Promotion>

To enjoy a special rate of $49.90 (U.P. $129.90) for the holiday workshop:

Please SMS “DKKSP0517<space>Name<space>Mobile No.” to 9633 1842

or

visit www.duinokids.com / call 6528 8359 to quote “DKKSP0517” 

Duino Kids’ workshop is conveniently located at 500 Toa Payoh Lorong 6, HDB Hub #04-40/41, Singapore 310500.