Majority of students in Singapore want coding as a core subject in school, reveals Microsoft study

 |   Singapore News Center

New research shows most students in Singapore recognise the value of coding for future careers, but face relative lack of support and opportunities from parents and schools

SINGAPORE, 21 April 2015 — Microsoft today released the results from a new Asia Pacific study which revealed that the majority of students in Singapore recognise the value of coding in their education and the potential it creates for their future careers. However, the study also found that students feel relatively unsupported in their interest for coding, signalling an urgent need for educators to look deeper at integrating it as a core subject in the school curriculum.

Conducted in February 2015 as part of the Microsoft YouthSpark #WeSpeakCode campaign, the survey polled 1,850 students under 24 years old from across eight countries in Asia Pacific1, including 250 students in Singapore, on their sentiments towards coding or software programming. They were also asked about the learning opportunities for coding that are currently available to them. The student respondents came from a variety of academic backgrounds, including arts and humanities, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), business, and other general fields of study.

According to the survey, 76 percent of students in Singapore want to know more about coding, and 66 percent wish that coding could be offered as a core subject in their schools. This suggests that coding has the potential to be a highly engaging subject that can capture the attention and imagination of students, leading to positive learning outcomes.

The study also underscores the broad understanding among students in Singapore about the impact of technology on businesses and the society – 72 percent of students say that coding is important to their future careers, and 59 percent agree that coding will be relevant to all careers in the future, regardless of areas of specialisation.

“The results from the Microsoft survey clearly show that the majority of students in Singapore no longer question the value of coding. These youths fully recognise its importance in helping them acquire fundamental 21st century skills and prepare them for success in the future,” said Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore. “As our world continues its evolution into one that depends on technology more and more, it is important for educators in the region to shift their focus away from the question of whether or not to offer coding as a subject – and instead, work towards integrating coding into the curriculum as soon as possible,” Ito added.

Other noteworthy results from the study include:

  • On the benefits of coding, 68 percent said coding helps them better understand the digital world that we live in today, and 59 percent appreciate the fact that coding can help them learn how to create apps.
  • Although commonly regarded as a male-dominated field, the survey nevertheless shows that a high proportion of both boys (79 percent) and girls (74 percent) in Singapore want to learn more about coding.
  • Reinforcing the finding that students in Singapore are fully aware of the growing importance of an education in technology, as much as 78 percent of students who specialise in the arts and humanities – an area that is conventionally far removed from science and technology – wants to learn more about coding.

However, despite the widespread enthusiasm and interest in coding, only 45 percent of students said they have an opportunity to learn coding in school, whether as a core subject or an extracurricular activity. This is one of the lowest figures among the countries surveyed. Furthermore, only 49 percent of students say their parents think coding is important to their future.

This indicates a severe disconnect between the students’ interests and the support that they are receiving from schools and at home. There is a need for educators and parents in Singapore to quickly reflect on how they can better support the younger generation in taking their first coding steps, especially when the majority of students (54 percent) said they would be willing to take up coding classes outside of regular school hours. In fact, 44 percent of students in Singapore have already looked beyond the classroom and picked up coding on their own through online tutorials.

To help educators tap into growing student interest in coding, the Microsoft YouthSpark #WeSpeakCode campaign is back for its second year in Asia Pacific. Aimed at inspiring youth in Asia Pacific to try their hand at coding and become creators, the campaign will connect aspiring student coders of all skill levels with the tools, resources, and experiences they need to turn their innovative ideas into reality – whether they only have an hour, a whole semester, or an entire year’s worth of time to invest.

In addition, the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2015, now in its 13th year in Singapore, provides a platform for student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic backgrounds to collaborate and develop technology applications for the market through the use of coding. In this year’s competition, three outstanding teams from Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Informatics and IT, Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and School of Interactive and Digital Media clinched top spots for their innovative technology applications at the Singapore Finals held earlier this month. The teams will now advance to the Asia Pacific Semi-Finals later next month to compete for a spot to represent Singapore at the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2015 World Finals, which takes place in Seattle in July.

Team 3DiMS from the Nanyang Polytechnic School of Biomedical Engineering and School of Engineering took the top prize in the Innovation Category for their 3DiMS (3D Measurement System) project. The 3DiMS is a software that enables quick and accurate 3D measurements of the Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) volume within potential stroke patients’ bodies using consumer devices such as the Microsoft Surface, and provides a faster, more convenient and cost-effective way of detecting potential strokes. Developed in consultation with doctors, neurosurgeons, research scientists and industry partners in Singapore, the solution also has the potential to improve the care provided to stroke patients worldwide.

Team Mozter, comprising members from Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Informatics and IT, took home the championship in the Citizenship Category with their mosquito monitoring platform that leverages on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the power of cloud technologies to enhance national mosquito surveillance and control. Called Mozter, the platform automates the mosquito data collection process to produce meaningful datasets that empower environment control officers to monitor mosquito data and take timely control actions where needed, versus the manual process practised by environment control officers today.

Team Mei You from the Nanyang Polytechnic School of Interactive and Digital Media clinched top spot in the Games Category for their Illan 3D puzzle and exploration game. Set in a monochromatic world that has lost its colours and liveliness, the protagonist is motivated by his desire to restore the lost colours of his world through his unique ability to overcome in-game challenges and obstacles. (Refer to Annex A for details of Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2015 Winners.)

“We at Microsoft are incredibly proud of what students in Singapore have done at this year’s Imagine Cup. The creativity displayed and the soundness of the ideas presented have greatly impressed the judges, with some of the top projects exemplifying how technology can effectively place professional skills attained through years of training in the hands of the general public. We are excited at the wide range of possibilities students can imagine with coding skills at the palms of their hands, and hope that the Imagine Cup experience will empower them to continually innovate, create and unlock the best opportunities for their future,” said Ito.

1 The countries involved in this study are: Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices, and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Microsoft YouthSpark #WeSpeakCode
In partnership with Code.org, Microsoft Asia Pacific’s #WeSpeakCode campaign aims to promote coding as a language for everyone in the region. The movement connects aspiring student coders of all skill levels with the tools, resources, and experiences they need to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Visit www.wespeakcode.net to find out more.

For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft Singapore, please visit the Microsoft Singapore News Center at https://news.microsoft.com/en-sg-stage/.

About the Microsoft Imagine Cup
Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. Initially introduced in the region in 2001 as the Asia Pacific Student .NET Competition, challenging tertiary students to design the best new web services solution, the name of the competition was changed to Imagine Cup in 2003. Today, it provides an opportunity for student technologists, developers, and aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic backgrounds to collaborate, develop a technology application, create a business plan and gain a keen understanding of what they need to bring their concept to market. In Imagine Cup, the brightest young minds join together to exemplify the power of student innovation.

The Imagine Cup is part of Microsoft’s on-going and long-term commitment to students and academia, inspiring them to realise their full potential.

For more information on the Imagine Cup, please visit www.imaginecup.com


Annex A: Winners of Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2015

INNOVATION COMPETITION

Team name: Team 3DiMS

Institution: Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Biomedical Engineering & School of Engineering

Team members:
– Hong Xuenong (Diploma in Electronic, Computer and Communication Engineering, NYP)
– Jason In Jie Xen (Diploma in Electronic, Computer and Communication Engineering, NYP)
– Nur Raihanah Binte Mohd Harion (Diploma in Biomedical Engineering, NYP)
– Umaa Gopinathan Pillai (Diploma in Biomedical Engineering, NYP)

Project name: 3DiMs (3D Measurement System)

Project description:
Stroke is a medical condition that can cause permanent neurological damage or death. It is also the second leading cause of death in the world. While patients suffering from stroke can benefit from neurosurgery, the Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) volume is a key indicator for the neurosurgeon to decide whether a surgery should be carried out for a particular patient. The time spent to measure the ICH volume is extremely crucial, as every minute of delay may increase the risk of permanent neurological damage or death.

In order to enable quick measurements of the ICH volume with reasonable accuracy within a minute using portable consumer devices, the team has collaborated with doctors and surgeons from the National Neuroscience Institute, research scientists from A*STAR as well as industry partners to develop the 3DiMS (3D Measurement System) – a software running on the Microsoft Surface which performs ICH volume 3D detection and measurement for rapid stroke patients.

3DiMS is not only able to measure the ICH volume with reasonable accuracy within a minute using only the Microsoft Surface, with no other additional equipment required, it is also fast, convenient and cost-efficient. With the new ability to speedily measure ICH volume at the bedside, the solution also has the potential to improve the care of potential stroke patients worldwide.

Technologies used:
– Microsoft Surface Pro 3
– Windows Phone
– OpenCV
– Microsoft Visual Studio

(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Umaa Gopinathan Pillai, Nur Raihanah Binte Mohd Harion, Hong Xuenong and Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore
(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Umaa Gopinathan Pillai, Nur Raihanah Binte Mohd Harion, Hong Xuenong and Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore

CITIZENSHIP COMPETITION

Team name: Team Mozter

Institution: Temasek Polytechnic, School of Informatics & IT

Team members:
– Goi Jia Jian (Diploma is Information Technology)
– Van Phuong Thanh (Diploma is Information Technology)
– Kirk Yeo (Diploma is Information Technology)

Project name: Mozter

Project description: Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 700,000 people every year, making the mosquito the deadliest insect on earth. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) is leading efforts worldwide to reduce the mortality rate induced by mosquito-borne diseases, it is also important to ramp up efforts on the local level to reduce mosquito-borne diseases through effective mosquito surveillance and control programmes.

Through our collaboration with the National Environmental Agency (NEA), Team Mozter aims to build a better mosquito-monitoring platform to equip local vector control officers with the information they need to carry out mosquito surveillance and control efficiently and effectively.

With the creation of Mozter – a mosquito monitoring platform that leverages on the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based technologies to enhance national mosquito surveillance and control, this automates the mosquito data collection process to produce meaningful datasets that enables control officers to monitor timely mosquito data and take control action when required. The Mozter mosquito monitoring platform comprises of (a) a mosquito detection sensor, (b) the data processing server and (c) a data visualisation platform to tell the story of the data collected from the sensor, creating a more effective and efficient way of monitoring the local mosquito situation compared to the manual deployment and collection of Gravitraps by control officers today.

Technologies used:
– Microsoft Azure
– Microsoft Azure SQL Database
– Microsoft ASP.NET MVC
– Windows Phone
– Raspberry Pi
– Matlab
– Microsoft Visual Studio

(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Van Phuong Thanh, Tan Chun Siong, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore, Goi Jia Jian, Kirk Yeo and Amada Kiemas, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft APAC
(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Van Phuong Thanh, Tan Chun Siong, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore, Goi Jia Jian, Kirk Yeo and Amada Kiemas, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft APAC

GAMES COMPETITION

Team name: Team Mei You

Institution: Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Interactive & Digital Media

Team members:
– Clement Sim Zhixuan (Diploma in Digital Media Design, NYP)
– Leroy Liew (Diploma in Digital Media Design, NYP)
– Chew Wei Yi Stanley (Diploma in Digital Entertainment Technology, NYP)
– Ui Jia Wei (Diploma in Digital Entertainment Technology, NYP)

Project name: Illan

Project description: Illan is a 3D puzzle and exploration game set in a world that has lost its colours and liveliness. The protagonist sets out to use his unique abilities to restore the colours to the world, by using his colour-coded superpowers to reveal hidden potentials in interactive objectives, and combining his abilities to create new solutions to overcome in-game obstacles.

Filled with adventures and mind-blogging puzzles, the journey of the protagonist will not be easy, but the reward of seeing his beloved world restored to its full colours is what drives him forward in spite of the challenges and obstacles faced.

Technologies used:
– Unity 3D
– Autodesk Maya
– Adobe Photoshop
– Microsoft Visual Studio

(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Ui Jia Wei, Leroy Liew, Tan Chun Siong, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore, Patrick Shim, Senior Technical Evangelist, Microsoft APAC, Clement Sim Zhixuan
(From left) Nobuhiro Ito, Director for Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore, Ui Jia Wei, Leroy Liew, Tan Chun Siong, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore, Patrick Shim, Senior Technical Evangelist, Microsoft APAC, Clement Sim Zhixuan

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