These workshops for kids aged from four to 15 years will change the way you think about studying technology.
Technology classes for four-year-olds? We’re shamelessly showing our age here, but we remember a time when we had to book a computer in the ‘computer room’ at school, and go to an internet café to ‘surf the web’. Now, our tiny – and not so tiny – people can learn skills that will be important for them in the future and start to interact with technology in an active way, beyond passively pressing ‘play’ on iPad games. Kids can study robotics, coding, 3D printing and other technology fields to help them use technology as a means to express their creativity. Oh my, this is a far cry from our Commodore 64 days! We might see if we can tag along to these courses at The Keys Edge and make up for some lost time.
Billed as ‘tech for superstars’, these are some impressive courses that are bound to inspire the next young Mark Zuckerberg, but also simply help kids ‘lift the curtain’ on technology. After all, children are exposed to technology all the time, so it makes sense to help them understand how it works. The Keys Edge offers classes from the tinkering stage through to full-blown entrepreneurial thinking, teaching computational concepts in a really engaging and fun way. The courses are connected to real-life scenarios and supported by guest lecturers and case studies, so the students understand what they’re trying to achieve. And they’re in good hands: the curriculum was designed in part by Roger Kassebaum, who won the US Presidential award for the best STEM teacher in America! Let’s take a look at what our young techies can get up to…
For 4-5 year-olds
For the youngest of future tech stars we have Robotics Mini and 3D Printing Mini courses. Over in the robotics room they’ll be introduced to circuits and robot programming, and learn about concepts such as electricity, magnetism and forces. In 3D printing, they’ll use clay modelling to build toys, gaining an understanding of tessellation, basic geometric shapes and structures. Amazing!
For 6-8 year-olds
Here we take things up a notch with Video Game Design, which is taught by a real life game designer, and Robotics Level I, where students can learn about kinematics and block programming (we’re already lost, so back to the Mini classes for us!). Coding Level I sounds fun, with the creation of simple games and animation using the kids’ favourite characters and stories they’ve written themselves. There’s also 3D Printing Level I, which immerses the children in basic geometric shapes and mathematical concepts.
For 9-12 year-olds
For this age group Robotics, Coding and 3D Printing are all taken to Level II, or kids can also opt to start at Level I for 3D Printing. These classes will start to introduce physics concepts, more advanced programming, and learning to create realistic solutions to real-life problems. This is the place to be for all aspiring young engineers and tech entrepreneurs!
For teens
Now this is where things get real! At this point, students can join the Hacker/Maker Lab and start tackling more difficult challenges independently. No more lectures, just applying what they know. Projects could include designing iOS apps and bringing them to life, using programming and electronics to create functional technology in clothing and gadgets, or building a robot that can be controlled via Bluetooth with a phone.
If you and your budding Zuckerbergs like the sound of these weekend courses, get in touch with The Keys Edge quick smart! The next term starts 4 July, and kids can try out a two-hour class for the special trial price of $40.
The Keys Edge, 331 North Bridge Rd, Odeon Towers Level 2, Singapore 188720. p. 6734 8559
This post is sponsored by The Keys Edge, the enrichment arm of The Keys Academy (www.thekeys.global).