In recent years, computer science courses and joining a coding school for kids have become even more popular extracurricular activities in Hong Kong. Taking computer programming far beyond school classrooms is coding academy KTBYTE. Here are some student testimonials and information on this coding school, and how it goes about empowering students aged eight to 18 years for success in computer science.
10 things to know about this coding academy
#1 Launched in the US in 2013, and now with a presence in Hong Kong, KTBYTE aims to make a high-quality computer science (CS) education accessible to students globally while also making it exciting and engaging.
#2 The Western teaching style of the computer science courses at this coding school for kids matches the typical demographics of its students, many of whom are aiming to attend international universities of note.
#3 The KTBYTE team says it places a strong focus on preparation for computer Olympiads. Participation in these competitions should be a top priority for students who want to improve their chances of applying to the best universities – namely, the MITs of the world.
#4 The coding academy syllabus is focused on teaching with excellence and rigour up to university undergraduate standard.
#5 There’s a fully integrated digital platform in place in KTBYTE classes. It includes audio, video, a coding environment and student grading and more.
#6 All classes are conducted by a teacher, with a class size typically not exceeding six to seven students. Classes are mostly online, but can be in-person if it’s more convenient for a student and their family.
#7 The syllabus and exercises are tailored to particular ages and levels of knowledge. Very young students, for example, use a more graphical environment than older ones.
#8 KTBYTE students hail from Hong Kong, mainland China, the US, Canada, the UK and Singapore.
#9 There are more playful activities (for example, Minecraft, Roblox and Scratch) available for certain students, along with more advanced current applied topics (like AI or web development). All are approached with the same rigour as the main curriculum.
#10 The academy is active in the community. For example, it’s sponsoring an upcoming event in Hong Kong called CodeHers (codehershk.org) focused on bringing more female students to coding.
Student testimonials
Mati
Mati joined KTBYTE while in high school at age 14, and joined the MIT PRIMES programme two years later. With the help of the academy, he’s on the path to fulfilling a dream career. “Working with my MIT mentor and co-researcher has been an invaluable high school learning opportunity,” he says. “I’m deeply thankful to KTBYTE for providing me with the necessary computer programming skills.”
Tanisha
Tanisha has been an academy student since seventh grade. As she progressed, she also began teaching for the academy. Tanisha has now been an MIT PRIMES Researcher for three years, working on projects in distributed systems for computer science courses and protein alignment for computational biology. She is currently following her passion for studying at a top university, attending Carnegie Mellon University as a Computer Science major.
About MIT PRIMES
The KTBYTE team describes MIT PRIMES (Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering and Science for High School Students) as a free, year-long programme whereby talented high school students work on individual and group research projects and participate in reading groups under the guidance of academic mentors. “The involvement of our students in the programme shows the quality of the education we provide,” they add.
KTBYTE undertakes trial sessions to assess students’ knowledge of computer programming and computer science skills. Find out more at ktbyte.com and get in touch at info@ktbyte.com.
This article about this computer programming and coding school for kids first appeared in the Spring 2023/2024 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!
