Mad science or Science workshop

veevee

Which one is better?  

danielboy

Sorry but I don't know which is better.  However, do you mind telling me where Mad Science is?  Do they have a website?

hart

Here are the websites:
Mad Science

Science Workshop

I wrote them before to ask about summer programs. Mad Science told me that I could enroll on their regular program whereas Science Workshop never replied me.

Charlotte_mom

I let my daughter joined Science Workshop (but quit now because she's having so many classes to attend now)
Science Workshop is a very good school, despite its high school fee! The lecturers are real scientists (from my observation) and they use simple ways to make children understand science. All lessons are conducted in English
For example, I went to pick up my daughter. Every student was holding a "paper plate turtle" and I said (in Cantonese) to my daughter "Well, why you stick all four legs ON the plate but not stretching OUTSIDE the plate like the other kids do?" And she replied (in Cantonese)"because my turtle is dormant, it's hiding up all four legs" <--undoubtfully she understands what the teacher is talking, right?
I talked to the lady in-charge one time. She told me: a student was visiting a zoo with the parents. His mom said"Look at the mother penguin, it's hatching an egg" and the child replied "No, FATHER pengiun hatches the egg. It can't be the mother"
If you join their regular class, over a period of time, the school will give you a detail performance report. Telling you how well your child is behaving in class, which topics she likes most etc.
A really good school. Worth trying!

kittylock

I let my son tried Science workshop class months ago.

They gave me bad impression and I found the staff there was rude and not helpful anyway.

I remembered that class accomodated kids from age 3 to 5+. As my son was a new comer and he was younger, the elder kids almost dominated the class during the whole lession. It seems that the teacher and the lab assistant could not control the discipline of class!! A waste of $$ and time!!

hart

Glad to hear different comments from parents.  Having seen Charlotte_mom's recommendation, I called Science Workshop and they faxed me the summer program info (they haven't replied my email enquiry sent 2 weeks ago) and was wondering whether I should let my daughter join their programs as they're quite far (we live in Kowloon).  May I know how many children there are per class?  My daughter is quite shy and if there're dominating kids, I'm sure she'd just stay at the back and watch.  
Kittylock, did your child join the class in Central?  Which workshop did you join and when was it?

yho

Dear all,

My child joined the Science Workshop last summer. It is quite good. The ratio of teacher to student = 1 teacher + 1 asst. to 10 children. And their service is ok too.
But I still want to know more about "Mad Science". Any comment?

danielboy

hart,
I share the same concern with you after reading kittylock's comments.  My son is not the shy type but I doubt whether he could benefit from an undisciplined class with a lot of dominating kids. How old is your daughter?  I also have to take into account the travelling issue.  I wish we had similar learning centres in Kowloon.  If I decide to let my son join their programme, Causeway Bay is a more preferred location for me.

tin_tin

My son attended Science Workshop class for 1 year at Causeway Bay. He's very shy and quiet in the beginning but became proactive and spoke loudly after 3 months. Their syllabus is quite good and my son enjoyed the lesson. Students learnt through fun and games (e.g. when they learn astronant and space, each student made a rocket using paper and straws, carry the rocket and pretent to walk on the moon in floating mode. Very funny!)
The school will put in handbook what the students learnt in each module and what will you do with your child to fit it. There was detail assessment report in each term.  

But their administrative work is quite messy. They may have no time to check emails. You can call the center and make a visit appointment.

My son didn't attend the summer class and I've no idea about it. It looks to be a summary of stuffs in a term.

kittylock,
Which center did your son attend? As I know, they have one class for 3-4 years and another class for 4 years-5 years old. Maybe the policy is changed after 1 year.

danielboy

tin_tin,
I was also very impressed by their syllabus and therefore I thought of letting my son attend their Easter workshop even though he was one month short of 3 years old then.  I told them that my son is pretty mature for his age and is not shy at all, but they insisted my son might be a bit young for the course and advised me to let him join later.  He has now just turned 3 years old and will probably be the youngest in class.  Therefore, I wonder if he would be able to catch up with the work due to his age or should I wait until he is in K1 this September.  At what age did your son start attending their classes?

veevee

Thanks for your sharing.  Actually, there's another center,
"Hands On Science Outreach" .  

They have a regular program at the Think International (Kowloon Tong campus).  But I've never heard of any comment on this one.  Any idea?

hart

danielboy,

My daughter just turned 3 last month.  I'd like her to do something different for summer and so I'm considering whether to enroll her in the the Science Workshop programs.  However, I do have some concern about the distance.  You're right, if they have centres in Kowloon, that'd be great.  I'm not too comfortable about her travelling with the helper alone, on the bus and the MTR EVERY DAY.  Both their centres in Central or Causeway seem to be quite far from the MTR station.

There seems to be a lot of good summer programs but most of them are on HK island.

kittylock

Yes, I let my son joined "Hands On Science Outreach" at their North Point Centre before (the NP centre has now been closed).

The class has only 2 students incl. my son (think this is attributable to the clousre of NP centre!!). However, I found the teacher is very good. The staff there also have good manners and very helpful.

The science class was conducted in Chinese and my son really enjoy it.

As there is no more centre at HK now, I was forced to quit their courses la!!   

ngyw

Dear moms,

除了這三個centres外，還有無其他好介紹呢？我仔對科學實驗很有興趣．

Cheers

tin_tin

danielboy,
My son started the classwhen he was K2. Since media of teaching is English, students should have elementary English standard. They are teaching science, not language.
Most of their students were from local International school or English schools. If your son is mature and can listen and speak English well, start in K1 is ok.

There is one English teacher and bilangual teacher in a class. The bilangual teacher is responsible to help the students who are weak in English.