SHAPING FUTURE CREATORS
Be a Creator with Technology
2013
empowering creators since
4,000+ students in terms & camps
800+
hours of proprietary, first-class curriculum
Cultivate Critical Skills Critical Thinking Creative Confidence Communication
Coding
new literacy in the digital age
per 4.3 devices person by 2020
Age 5-6
strengthen logical thinking through coding
1.4 Million
programming job opportunities by 2020
Done is Better than Perfect
Table of Contents Why Learn to Code?
Core Programs
About First Code
Electives
Press & Partners
Students’ Experience
Learn to think by learning to code. Coding is the new literacy that empowers students with a creator’s mindset and enhances their problem solving ability.
Since launch in 2013, First Code has been empowering our next generation to become creators with technology.
We partner with multinational organizations to bring coding education to more children.
Offering courses to students from age 5 to 18, First Code has developed a long-term curriculum for students to learn coding.
To expand the horizon of our students, we offer additional electives that cover new topics in technologies including Virtual Reality, 3D Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, etc.
From app competitions to hackathons, we strive to provide our students with an all-round community experience.
Why Learn to Code? The World’s Second Language
In a digital world, the ability to create with technology is as crucial as the ability to write. Computer Science is the most sought-after major in top universities, including Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
Logical Thinking
Programming trains one’s problem solving skills. Students are equipped with the power to command computers to perform tasks they otherwise do repeatedly.
Creativity
Coding transforms students from being consumers in technology to creators. Students are empowered to use coding to solve daily problems with technology, by creating web or mobile applications.
What Global Leaders Say - Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft “Learning to write programs stretches your mind, helps you think better, and creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”
Our mission
is to empower our next generation to become creators with technology
About First Code Academy
Our values Done is better than perfect Move fast and break things Do things, tell people
Our Story Born and raised in Hong Kong and a graduate from University of Chicago, First Code Academy’s founder Michelle Sun started her career at Goldman Sachs as a technology analyst. Soon, she discovered her passion in technology and launched her first startup. While the venture did not succeed, she learned a lot from the experience. One of the key lessons she learned is the importance of understanding the technical aspects which led her to teach herself to code. She then moved to Silicon Valley to work in startups including Bump Technologies (acquired by Google in 2013) and Buffer. There, she also began teaching kids how to code. Upon returning to Asia in 2013, she set out to bring to students the mindset of creative problem solving through programming.
"Knowing how to code opened up a whole new world to me, including the opportunities to work at high growth technology startups in the Silicon Valley. I realized that coding also helps shape one’s way of thinking, by structurally decomposing and analyzing a problem. At the same time, coding is also a highly creative act, as it allows me to create in a whole new medium, i.e. technology, to transform my ideas into an app, website etc. That feeling is very empowering. In addition, my experience in teaching coding in the Silicon Valley gave me the conviction that coding is the next literacy for the millennial generation. With that, I felt compelled to help students in Asia gain digital literacy, through First Code’s coding programs. Developed by a passionate and top caliber team of engineers and educators, our structured, unique and robust curriculum aims to challenge students to think, act responsibly and be a creative leader in the digital era. I hope that the skills, experiences, mentorships and friendships our students experience at First Code can jumpstart them to a lifelong journey of creative pursuits and endless career possibilities."
Michelle Sun, Co-founder and CEO
Press & Partners
First Code Stories
Stories and experiences from our students
Anna
First Code Explorer Student Grade 6, Renaissance College
She loves art, does ballet and codes.
She was recently awarded in two mobile app competitions in Hong Kong and at MIT in Boston, USA.
“I want to learn coding because I want to be a hacker when I grow up!” Siu Tou, First Code Tinker Student Grade 2, Diocesan Boys’ School
“I have always been interested in coding so I started on an enjoyable and educational journey with First Code. When I am unsure of some concepts in class, my dedicated teachers make sure that I understand them and even teach me extra concepts. First Code also organises Demo Days where I get to present my very own apps and learn from other students’ creations.”
Aislinn, First Code Explorer Student Grade 5, Raffles Girls’ Primary School
Euan
Euan, First Code Creator Student Grade 8, Singapore International School, TEDx Speaker
Coding to Express Yourself by Euan Seow at TED x YCISHK
“Coding is actually a lot more fun than I thought it was. I like being able to interact with computers and learning how they work.”
"My dad always says, if I can code, there are more jobs when I grow up. After all, it’s the language of the future." Sarah, First Code Creator Student Grade 9, Canadian International School
Curriculum Roadmap A holistic and comprehensive coding journey
Creator (Age 12+) to equip teenagers with the necessary tools and concepts to bring their idea to reality in the world of technology.
Tinker (Age 5-8)
to instill the concept that technology is a creator’s tool to young curious minds.
Explorer (Age 9-11) to inspire primary school students to go beyond gaming into creating.
Entrepreneur (Age 15+) to give young adults the opportunity to solve real-world problems with technology.
Intermediate Creator (Age 12+) to further enhance teens’ coding knowledge through advanced programming languages used by professionals globally.
Electives (All ages) to discover fun and innovative programming tools to explore the world of computer science and further enhance their skill sets.
First Code Tinker (Age 5-8) Coding is a combination of both logical and creative thinking skills. We believe that for young children, the journey of learning to code begins away from the computer. Coding is more than typing away on a keyboard and facing a blank screen.
8:1
Student to Teacher Ratio
In our Tinker Programs, we designed our curriculum around cutting-edge education technology toolkits, utilising Hopscotch, ScratchJr, Dash & Dot and many more for maximum hands-on learning. Learning to code is visual, playful and highly interactive.
Demo Day Presentation
First Code Experience
Stamford Court, City Hall
- 4 terms per year (Jan-Mar, Mar-May, Jul-Sep, Sep-Nov) - 9 classes per term / 1 class per week - 90 minutes per class - Complimentary year-long online learning platform membership - Term-end Parent-Teacher Conference - Exclusive invites to workshops, speaker series, site visits and Genius Hours
Flexible Dates & Private Classes
Tinker Jr (Age 5-6)
ScratchJr: Tinker with Code
This course introduces coding concepts to young imaginative minds. Using an iPad app, students start by learning basic movement commands, sequences, and loops. They are encouraged to think creatively and bring their imaginations to reality.
3D Minecraft Modding: Program Your Own Mods
Hardware Exploration Students learn to experiment with different elements of various electronic devices though fun hardware projects and games.
Students program, manipulate, and design functions of different objects in Minecraft by tapping into the code and their own creativity.
Robotics: Building Blocks of a Creator Students learn to command robots with code and create animations and games with the use of an iPad. They apply basic concepts in mathematics and programming to complete challenges every lesson.
Start from Scratch: Animations & Games Students learn how to use Scratch, a blocks-based programming tool developed by the MIT Media Lab, to design and build fun projects like animated stories and multimedia games. Students then deep-dive into Scratch II and III on the roadmap.
Tinker (Age 7-8)
Programming Robots and ScratchX Leveraging on what they have learned in Scratch, students build robots, and hardware extensions, and learn how computer code can affect real world objects.
First Code Explorer (Age 9-11) The Explorer program aims to inspire primary school students to go beyond mobile and computer gaming, and move to create their own game and apps. Starting with our flagship AppJamming course, First Coders learn basic computer science concepts to start building their first mobile app. They then move into our Web Development course to create websites including their own blogs, portfolio webpages, and simple web animations.
First Code Experience - 4 terms per year (Jan-Mar, Mar-May, Jul-Sep, Sep-Nov) - 9 classes per term / 1 class per week - 90 minutes per class - Complimentary year-long online learning platform membership - Term-end Parent-Teacher Conference - Exclusive invites to workshops, speaker series, site visits and Genius Hours
8:1
Student to Teacher Ratio
Demo Day Presentation
Stamford Court, City Hall
Flexible Dates & Private Classes
Computer Science Foundation: AppInventor & Java Processing This course explores the world of computer science by designing and creating games and applications using a blocks-based programming language, AppInventor. Through building a series of apps, we instill computational thinking skills and introduce design thinking concepts to solve real-life problems for the community. In the final module, students dive into their first syntax-based programming language, Java.
Intro to Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript This course introduces JavaScript, a syntax-based language, and front-end web development with HTML and CSS. Sometimes called the language of the internet, JavaScript is the gateway to creating websites. Projects include a personal portfolio, blog and a series of web animations.
Web App Development Your Coding Journey Starts Here!
Free consultation today. Learn how to get started with coding. hellosg@firstcodeacademy.com 6820 2633
This course introduces another modern programming language, Python, along with modules such as Tkinter and frameworks such as Flask. Projects feature web applications that manipulate data such as microblogs, to-do lists and turn-based games.
First Code Creator (Age 12+) This foundational program aims to equip teenagers with the necessary tools and concepts to bring their idea to reality. With an emphasis on hands-on development in first mobile apps, then websites and followed by web application, we guide students to deepen their understanding on key current topics in technology, including social networks, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
8:1
Student to Teacher Ratio
We cover computational thinking in 7 areas, including Creativity, Abstraction, Data, Algorithms, Programming, Internet, and Impact.
Demo Day Presentation
First Code Experience
Stamford Court, City Hall
- 4 terms per year (Jan-Mar, Mar-May, Jul-Sep, Sep-Nov) - 9 classes per term / 1 class per week - 90 minutes per class - Complimentary year-long online learning platform membership - Term-end Parent-Teacher Conference - Exclusive invites to workshops, speaker series, site visits and Genius Hours
Flexible Dates & Private Classes
Computer Science Foundation: AppInventor & Java Processing Through hands-on projects to create games and utility apps, this course aims to provide a solid foundation of computer science concepts and computational thinking. Students are also introduced to design thinking principles to solve real-life problems using their programming skills.
Intro to Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Building on the foundation of computer science concepts, this course introduces JavaScript, a syntaxbased language, and front-end web development with HTML and CSS. Projects include mini web applications and web-based games.
Web App Development
Your Coding Journey Starts here!
Free consultation today. Learn how to get started with coding.
hellosg@firstcodeacademy.com 6820 2633
This course introduces another modern programming language, Python, along with modules such as Tkinter and frameworks such as Flask. Projects include web applications that take in data such as microblogs, todo lists and turn-based games.
First Code Entrepreneur (Age 15+) In our First Code Entrepreneur course, students build on their foundation of web & mobile development to engage in design thinking process and solve problems for local non-profit organizations. By going into a local NGO to discover needs, students design and code the solution to their target users as the final project.
Application Development
Design Thinking
Coming Soon!
Contact us at hellosg@firstcodeacademy.com to schedule a class
Partnered Organizations
Solving Real World Problems
AppJamSummit
AppJammingSummit
APPJAMMING SUMMIT A regional app development competition to discover the best young app makers Each year, First Code Academy organizes the AppJamming Summit for students aged 8-16 across the region to submit their apps and games. The Summit provides a platform for young and talented app developers to present their apps and inspire their peers to create with technology. At the finals hosted in Hong Kong, the winner of the competition earns a chance to compete at the MIT App Inventor Summit in Boston, Massachusetts.
www.appjammingsummit.org Running since
5+
600+
2015
Teams went to MIT, Boston
App submissions across Asia
Celebrating young creators
Electives (All Ages) Minecraft Modding By teaching programming and technical concepts behind video game modding, this course empowers students with the ability to modify video games. Students start with 2D and 3D design and modelling, then programming their mods to achieve desired character and item behaviours within the Minecraft Game. Through modding, each student develops completely unique worlds and adds additional elements to compliment the original game world.
3D Modeling & Printing Children of this generation are all 3D natives. Spatial thinking capabilities are a critical component of a child’s development. The 3D Printing course starts with an introduction of 3D modeling, navigating through the interface of TinkerCad, a beginner-friendly 3D modeling software. The course then covers 3D design elements and principles, dissecting how 3D printers work, before moving into modelling more complex structures. Students finish the course with a complete 3D printed product to take home.
Unity Game Programming: Virtual Reality From Pixar movies to Minecraft, and from 3D printing to virtual and augmented reality, 3D technology is all around us. By teaching students programming concepts behind 3D computer programs, this course empowers them to become creators with 3D technology. The course first provides a gentle introduction of 3D modeling through concepts of 3D geometry and creating fun 3D objects. Using objects designed in Blender, students then move on to program their 3D world in C# on the Unity 3D platform.
Visual Art with Code: Java Processing Coding is often regarded as a logical way of solving problems. At the same time, computer programs can produce amazing graphic designs and has had a profound impact on the creative industry. This course is designed for the creative-minded and for children who love the digital arts and being creative. We introduce the relation between simulation, number, aesthetic, art and nature with Java Processing, a programming language widely used among designers and researchers. Guided by colors and geometric lines, students learn to code their own one-of-a-kind poster and bring a hard copy back home.
“Design thinking is a humancentered approach to innovation that draws from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.“
Design Thinking AppEntrepreneur Bootcamp (Age 15+)
Tim Brown President and CEO of IDEO
Students form groups of 3-4 to iterate through the three steps of design thinking inspiration, ideation, and implementation. Inspiration: Engage with the problem that motivates the search for solutions. Ideation: Generate, develop, and test ideas (iteratively). Implementation: Springboard idea to concrete products to solve real-world problems During a two-week, full 10-day workshop, students are equipped with practical app development skills, learning the tenets of design thinking to finally create prototypes that solves real life problems. The course takes on a dual approach of hands-on prototyping via mobile application and the iterative process of design thinking.
Classroom In Action At First Code, there are no standardized tests or class recitations. Students are invited to come to class with a sense of curiosity, a self starter attitude, and a mindset to experiment and create. Our mission at First Code is to share a fulfilling and rewarding creative experience that is achieved through learning computer programming. Our instructors are trained professionally with First Code curriculum and instructional methods, equipped with both technical expertise and coaching skills in guiding students as mentors of computer coding. Our main focus is on practice, rather than theory. We aim to give our students an immersive introductory learning experience to the concepts of computer science and to develop their logical thinking and problem solving skills.
International Exposure MIT AppInventor Summit In June 2016, 3 students from First Code Academy were shortlisted from thousands of professional mobile app developers to present at the MIT AppInventor Summit. Anna Desfretier, Aadi Anand, and Isaac Li presented their apps during the conference. At the conference, Aadi and Isaac won the awards for 3rd place at EcoHackathon and Best Presenter Award at the Summit.
Python Conference (PyCon) PyCon is an annual conference hosted around the world for Python developers, educators and researchers. One of our students, Isaac Li, age 12, was invited to present his experience at the PyCon in Taiwan and Hong Kong. He shared with the audience about his journey from a Minecraft gamer to an avid programmer, picking up Javascript and Python, and shared tips for beginners like his younger self on how to pick up Python as a pre-teen.
Community Initiatives CS First in Partnership with Google At First Code Academy, we believe that coding is a superpower that every child deserves. In partnership with CS First, we have been operating a series of workshops to train trainers to conduct voluntary, free coding events for the underprivileged children. 9 First Code advanced students (ranging from age 10-14) also started leading their own coding clubs under this program.
Paypal Girls In Tech As part of PayPal's Girls in Tech initiative, we ran a series of girls-only AppJamming camps to introduce coding to primary-level students through unplugged coding activities and building their own mobile applications.
GoCode Project in Collaboration with Sino Group With the support of Sino Group and YWCA, we operated Go Code Project, a series of community-impact coding courses for students from underprivileged communities in Hong Kong.
Do Things, Tell People
Start Your Coding Journey Today Free Consultation & Campus Tour
www.firstcodeacademy.com hellosg@firstcodeacademy.com | (65) 6820 2633 firstcodeacademy.sg
Hong Kong
Singapore
Taiwan
first_code
First Code Academy Stamford Campus #04-13 Stamford Court, 61 Stamford Road Singapore 178892