Benefits of starting early with MakeFest

Program adapted for starting at age 10

The MakeFest program started in 2020 with 6th-grade students, with the goal of teaching practical computer and digital-service skills through collaborative game development. Since then, more participants have joined in 5th and 6th grade. All of these participants have now been progressing successfully in the program for years. Participants who started in 6th grade already had some prior knowledge, so it is clearly possible to learn the foundations at age 10. Over the last 5 years, we have continuously refined the program to make it accessible from 5th grade onward, even without prior knowledge.

Learning fundamentals with fun in a group

One key advantage of learning fundamentals with MakeFest is that participants enjoy learning more in a team and, from the very beginning, learn productive techniques and methods rather than developing unproductive habits they would later need to unlearn. For younger participants in particular, motivation depends on having a sufficiently capable computer and internet connection from the start. We support parents in setting up a suitable home learning environment. Inadequate equipment slows progress and is demotivating. Reconfiguring everything after buying better hardware also costs additional time. That is why careful preparation for starting at age 10 makes a real difference.

But should you start that early?

Even though starting at age 10 is possible, it is natural to ask whether starting later might be better. And of course that can work, as shown by several MakeFest participants who started later, even in 11th or 12th grade. But they do miss several advantages that come with joining MakeFest earlier.

Advantage of an early start

Motivation for math, science, and other subjects

One advantage is the motivating effect on school subjects in general, which is especially valuable at a younger age. It is not uncommon for children to develop an early aversion to certain subjects, especially math and science. For example, one student who started only in 11th grade said she had liked math before, then began to hate it after a bad experience with a teacher, and only rediscovered her interest through MakeFest.

This issue starts early, definitely already in 5th and 6th grade. For example, I had one student who already believed at age 10 that he simply was not made for math, which of course was not true. In our very first course, when we build a small game, we actually do math in a playful and interactive way, without participants even noticing and without risk of an allergic reaction 😁 That approach also helped this student.

Learning effective learning methods in time

But the advantages of starting at age 10 go much deeper. Grades 5 and 6 are naturally more demanding than primary school, but the bigger jump usually happens when moving into grade 7. For some students this transition is smooth, but for others it is the first serious challenge. In the first MakeFest courses, participants learn and practice how to create structured notes to support learning. They analyze what we read, identify what is relevant, put key ideas into their own words, and build connections between topics. Over the months, they use their notes for reference, as a tool for long-term learning and retention, and as a way to represent and explore their growing knowledge base.

This is a method of personal knowledge management, the topic of my diploma thesis. It is significantly more effective than what many students do: highlighting texts in different colors and rereading them until they can repeat them from memory without truly understanding them.

Children often get by with their current method until school demands become so difficult that they can no longer keep up without truly understanding the material. At that point, it is often difficult or impossible to learn a better method while preparing for exams at the same time. This is unfortunate, because students then have to invest more time than necessary in exam preparation, often depend on parents or tutoring, and still do not learn the most important skill: how to learn effectively and autonomously.

I have observed this exact pattern repeatedly across 60+ courses in the last 5 years. That is why learning methods and tools are now integrated into the starter courses. Participants learn these methods in a relaxed and playful way and usually master them after about two years. This is one reason why starting in 5th grade is especially beneficial: by the end of 6th grade, students can already be prepared for the challenges from 7th grade onward. This preparation can significantly reduce both learning time and pressure.

More time to fully benefit from the MakeFest program

Over the last 5 years, I have developed the MakeFest program to support students from grade 5 through grade 12. Starting in grade 5 allows students to benefit from the full scope of the program. By grade 10, participants are generally able to develop thoughtful solutions to complex problems independently. In upper secondary school, students are naturally under greater pressure, so MakeFest participants can work through the final two modules, Business and Science, with less effort.

Excellent English skills

In addition, by practicing reading, listening, speaking, and writing in English for 90 minutes each week, participants build an excellent foundation in vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency within about two years. This helps significantly in school English classes over the following years.

Starting later is of course possible

As mentioned above, it is of course possible to start MakeFest later and, after learning the fundamentals, work through selected parts of the curriculum based on interests and available time. The advantage of an early start, for example in 5th grade, is that participants can fully benefit from the school-related advantages.