You do not need to compare every course on your first visit. A more useful sequence is to describe where your child is now, understand how learning works here, and only then compare specific programs.
A 10-minute orientation
- Write down the main question you want to answer, such as “My child loves making things but gives up when the first attempt fails.”
- Read How learning works and decide whether the approach fits your child.
- Use How to choose a program to consider goals, timing, and readiness.
- If you are still unsure, begin with a low-pressure first experience instead of committing to a long path immediately.
Common terms
Real-world project
A learner works on a problem that requires understanding, designing, making, testing, and communicating. The final object matters, but so do the decisions, failures, and revisions that lead to it.
Project camp
A concentrated period for moving through a complete project. It can suit learners who want to enter a specific setting, collaborate with a team, or complete a focused challenge. Check each program page for its current dates, age range, and arrangements.
Progression course
A course designed around continued practice and staged development. It can suit learners who want to build engineering, design, or communication capabilities over time.
Mentor
A mentor does not complete the work for the learner. Mentors help learners clarify problems, ask better questions, establish a rhythm, and receive methods or safety boundaries when needed.
Three useful checks
- Can learners make real decisions rather than only copy a fixed sequence?
- Is the process visible through sketches, tests, versions, and explanations?
- Can a mentor explain what the learner should practise next, not just whether the result is good?
If these questions matter to your family, continue with How learning works.