How Singapore uses CodeCombat to launch a national youth Python programming competition - AI4kids

CodeCombat’s programming education has always been global. Today, let’s take a look at how Singapore uses CodeCombat to carry out a national youth Python programming competition!

Expert introduction

Dr. Chris Boesch Associate Professor of Education National University of Singapore Deputy Director of the Applied Learning Sciences and Educational Technologies (ALSET)

Why CodeCombat

Gamified Learning

In CodeCombat, students can happily start learning programming in the game, feel the infinite charm of gamification programming, and then actively explore future levels, inspiring their unlimited creativity to complete learning tasks. While acquiring programming knowledge, I also developed the good habit of independent learning and continuous innovation.

Real code

CodeCombat's code is real code, not graphical code. Students are exposed to code firsthand and write code to play games and complete their own goals. Our levels range in difficulty from simple to complex, and a child with no programming knowledge can write 25-50 lines of code on the first day of using the CodeCombat platform.

Personalized Learning

The CodeCombat game interface is very delicately designed, and every little detail can attract children's attention. Every student who uses CodeCombat to learn programming can find their favorite hero among the characters of various skin colors and genders provided by CodeCombat, and use him or her as the protagonist to play games and learn programming.

Systematic growth

We have designed different levels of growth paths for children of different age groups. In CodeCombat, children can grow from zero-based learning to the level of being able to independently develop games and participate in competitions. They will also receive exquisite certificates after completing each level.

Singapore National Programming Championships

Singapore National Coding Championships

200 of the best from more than 2,000 contestants from all over Singapore gathered at the competition site. This group of children who love programming, through their own efforts, passed more than 40 levels and were nominated by the school, which gave them this precious opportunity to participate in the competition .

Competition Rules

• Students will form two competing teams and work together using one computer to perform the pairing program.
• The time limit is two hours.
• Within the specified time, contestants must continuously update the code so that your supporters can pay attention to the live game displayed on the screen.
• After two hours, we will have a group-to-group competition to determine the champion.

Dr. Chris Boesh said:

“Even though I have a PhD, I still can’t beat the top-ranked teams in 2-3 hours.”

The competition was very intense. Although in the second half of each group, you will be competing against 13-14 year olds who have only about two weeks of programming experience, as your ranking increases, the opponents you will meet will become stronger and stronger. If you want to beat the top 2-3 groups, it will be even more difficult. Take Dr. Chris for example. Even though he has a Ph.D. and has written more than 200 lines of code, he still cannot beat the top 2-3 teams within 2-3 hours.

Dr. Chris Boesh said:

“After the award ceremony, through this competition, the future super geeks in Singapore got to know each other in advance and established friendships.”

After completing this step-by-step comparison, the challenger will face the knockout round. The teams at the front will advance, while the teams at the back will just have to watch the next games. The competition will award prizes to the top three teams. If a school is outstanding and meets the group registration standard of 300 children, with each child completing at least five minutes of three-line coding, the competition will support the school to send an additional team. After the award ceremony, through this competition. Singapore’s future super geeks got to know each other and built friendships ahead of time.

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