A zine by
Jan 2020
Saturday Kids
CURIOSITY CHRONICLES
ISSUE 1
Making kids curious since 2012
THE PUSH FOR DIGITAL LITERACY
PURSUE CREATIVITY, NOT COMPETITION A little earlier this year, coding enrichment classes were made compulsory for all upper primary students in Singapore. Here, we take a step back to adopt a broader perspective to the news, and explore what it means for kids, parents, and us as a larger community.
The opening of a new path towards digital literacy offers surplus opportunities to students across the board and we’re psyched about the creative potential that learning a new medium will unlock. Done well, learning to code will help kids lean into the future and equip them with the knowledge to make sound, informed decisions - allowing them to better navigate the world they’re growing up in. Not only would coding offer kids an additional medium to express their creativity, we foresee that it will boost their creative confidence and provide them with another outlet for self-expression – all the while getting them curious about technology. Nevertheless, it’s important to place this development within a larger context and to recognise what our responsibility is
– as parents, educators and the general community – in order to ensure this ultimately benefits all kids in the long run without evolving into yet another weapon for classroom competition. Here, we share some thoughts on how to ensure that coding in classrooms will leave a positive impact on children. 1. Think critically about digital literacy education
they learn. Coding may be the flavour of the month and a vital skill at this point of time, but as the saying goes, change is the only constant. As such we need not – or rather should not develop every child to be an engineer, but if they’re curious, creative and self-directed, we’re sure that will enable them to solve big problems and flourish in their own paths. We stand for inspiring curiosity, regardless of the subject matter.
At Saturday Kids, we’ve never believed in promoting technology for the sake of churning out tech-savvy kids. Instead, we believe it is a means of cultivating curiosity, creativity, and resourcefulness in children. We know that’s the secret sauce for kids to thrive in an unpredictable world, and work towards their own definitions of success – whatever that might be.
2. Value what makes us human
How kids learn matters as much as what
That’s why the study of the humanities
Technology doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The more technology-driven and automated our world becomes, the greater the importance of “soft skills” and the humanities. The ability to analyse, evaluate and apply technology within different contexts is critical.
and social sciences is so important, and why traits like curiosity, empathy, and problem-solving are the ones we should really look to nurture. Amidst the hype of tech, let’s not overlook the fundamental skills and qualities that are key to ensuring tech is purposed for the greater good. 3. Keep code creative, keep learning fun. As we mentioned earlier, kids can and should learn so much more than just technical skills when they learn to code! Code can be a powerful tool for kids to build creative confidence and practise creative expression – qualities that will last a lifetime and come in handy, regardless of whether a kid grows up to be an engineer, author, banker, or musician. Let’s keep code creative and the learning process fun. Because when kids get a taste of how fun learning can be, half the battle