Frequently Asked Questions
How is The Lab different from other Coding programs?
– The Lab is the first coding school in Singapore, if not in Asia, to formalize a Computational Thinking and Programming curriculum for students aged 5 and above. At The Lab, the student not only learns to be proficient in Python, but also builds skills in computational thinking, logic and problem solving, analytical skills, and information processing. Students who learn how to think computationally increase their logical, creative thinking and problem solving skills. These skills facilitate and increase a student’s analytical power to better solve traditional school subjects such as Science and Math.
– We have a Proven Curriculum with clear learning objectives and formalized assessment. Our curriculum has been developed with guidance from the senior team of The Lab. Most coding programs are not curriculum based and do not have clear learning objectives against which to assess student progress.
– Our curriculum is An Experiential one. The Lab’s experiential curriculum removes students from traditional classroom setting and allows them to immerse themselves into real-world problems. It is a powerful approach to teaching coding and Computational Thinking, hence enhancing theunderstanding of math and science. Core computational thinking concepts such as decomposition, pattern recognition, and abstraction are introduced as will programming tools such as flowcharts.
How is my child being assessed in The Lab?
Each student is stringently assessed by a cutting -edge technology system powered by data analytics, supported with highly qualified facilitators. We closely monitor the progress of the student throughout his/her learning journey with us as the system assessed the student consistently to ensure that the student is learning in the most efficient way.
What is the difference between Scratch and The Lab Google Blockly?
Scratch is a development environment designed especially for programmers aged 8 to 16 (but it’s fun and useful for beginners of all ages). It’s an all-inclusive environment that contains any block you need to manipulate a cast of characters through an environment of your creation. More experienced scratcher’s can branch out and create games and animations all their own using Scratch’s extensive library of blocks. Blockly, on the other hand, allow users to code real-world tools.
Blockly blocks can be translated directly into such languages as Javascript, PHP, Dart, and Python.
In The Lab, we use Blockly to expose your child to Python as early as possible. Based on our experience, there is a low retention rate when a child switches from Scratch to native programming languages because the child is too dependent on visual programming. Whilst Blockly uses visual programming too, the interface shows native programming as well and hence allows a child to progress to syntax programming more effectively than from Scratch to Python.
Why do we use Python?
Python stands out for many reasons: it’s a high level open source programming language that has a very large and growing supportive community. It’s a flexible language that is used by Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, and for data analysis due to its numerous functionalities for artificial intelligence and machine learning. It is also becoming the standard in education. All first year coding program at schools like Cornell, Stanford, Dartmouth, Michigan, SUTD use Python as the language of instruction.
If my child has no/minimal experience in Python, would learning Python be too hard for my child?
How long does it take for one to be proficient in Python?
In The Lab, an average student require only a span of six modules to be able to read, understand, and write codes in native Python on their own. This level corresponds to our Advanced program. After this level, students are encouraged to explore Python further with our elective programs such as Data Sciences.
My child is already learning Coding in school. Does my child still need to sign up for The Lab membership?
Like most schools, we teach Coding too. However, our focus is to teach Coding to acquire Computational Thinking in the most efficient way and to ensure that your child develop the right skills for the future with high connectivity to industry organizations. There is a high level of social development and peer relationships as your child will be interacting with other children of different ages and schools.
If my child has prior programming experience, can they skip the level that is considered appropriate and move to the next one?
Please make sure to inform our sales team about your child’s programming background. This information will help us facilitate the assessment by the teacher during the trial class and potentially place your child in the most suitable program.
Is it possible for my child to take a single class instead of committing to a package?
We do not offer single-class payments. Our classes are structured to be at least 10 weeks or 3 months in duration to ensure a substantial learning experience. If you’re seeking a shorter-term option, we recommend considering our holiday programs.
Do students receive certificates upon program completion from The Lab or external organizations?
Yes, students in the Kinder and Junior programs receive in-house certificates at the end of each term. In The Lab Coder program, in-house certificates are provided upon completion of each level, which includes Foundation, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Additionally, The Lab collaborates with the Singapore Science Centre to offer external certifications, specifically the Elite Program certificate.
Can my child join competitions?
We highly encourage students to participate in coding competitions to strengthen their coding abilities and demonstrate their skills. We offer a variety of both internal and external competitions, catering to nearly all age groups. While some competitions may involve a pre-selection process, others have minimal or no prerequisites.
What sets the Lab Holiday Camp apart from the standard classes?
Our holiday camps are designed to ignite or rekindle the enthusiasm of both new and current students. These camps typically revolve around the creation of a game, and we tailor our instruction to cover the programming concepts necessary for the specific game. In contrast, our regular classes follow a more gradual and structured approach to teaching programming concepts.
Can my child take their holiday camp projects home?
Certainly! The coding platforms we use in our holiday camp are open source, allowing your child to bring home and showcase their work from class. They can also further explore and build upon what they’ve learned in the comfort of their home!
What is the refund policy for holiday camp fees if my child falls ill?
Regrettably, we do not offer refunds for holiday camp fees. However, if you can provide us with an official medical leave certificate, we can issue a credit note that can be used for a future holiday camp.
How do I collect my item?
You have two options: you can either personally pick it up at any of our branches in Singapore or choose home delivery. Please note that home delivery comes with applicable shipping charges.
What is the refund policy for the items I've bought?
Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the invoice. Please be aware that items that have been opened are not eligible for refunds.
What should I do if my item is damaged or lost during shipment?
If your item is damaged or lost in transit, please inform us within 30 days of the incident. You can contact us at contact@thelab.sg or call us at (+65) 8916-0017.
What are the modes of payment?
We accept various forms of payments, namely, bank transfer, Paylah, Paynow, cash and also credit cards.
