Future Keys Future Keys
Book a trial class

Future Keys® · Shanghai STEAM academy · Since 2017

Unlock the builder in every child.

Future Keys teaches coding, robotics, design, AI and computer science to children aged 4 to 18. Lessons are game-based and project-based, and every course ends with something your child built.

Book a trial class Find a course by age

About Future Keys

Kids love technology, games and friends. We turn all three into real skills.

Since 2017 we have worked with Shanghai's international schools, kindergartens, universities, companies and families to give children a safe, encouraging place to learn the skills their future needs.

5,000+

young learners inspired by technology

8

international education partners in Shanghai

12+

competitions entered in China and internationally

2nd

tournament place, VEX V5 Asia Open 2024–25

4–18

years old, on one continuous pathway

Hexky

our own teaching board, designed in-house

Schools we work with Lycée Français de ShanghaiWISSConcordiaDeutsche Schule ShanghaiSHVFSSunrise Kindergarten

Age stages

A curriculum that grows with your child.

Four stages, like the cuts on a key, each one deeper than the last: from seeing how technology is made to solving real problems with it.

Age 5–6 · Junior 1–2Junior
Age 7–8 · Tinker 1–2Tinker
Age 9–11 · Explorer 1–3Explorer
Age 12+Creator
Age 5–6Junior

See how technology is made and use it as a way to express ideas. Build logical thinking through hands-on projects.

Courses
OsmoCode SparkScratchJrKodableHopscotchTickleVEX GO
Skills
Imagination · creative confidence · logical thinking
Age 7–8Tinker

Learn core computer science concepts, build and code animations and games, and get hands-on programming experience with Scratch and Arduino.

Courses
Scratch3D modellingMicro:bitArduinoVEX IQMinecraft
Skills
Observation · logical and systematic thinking · creative expression · abstract thinking
Age 9–11Explorer

Develop computational thinking, design thinking and problem solving, and become fluent in a first text-based programming language.

Courses
App Lab · ThunkableJava ProcessingC++Web programmingRobloxVEX V5AI Vibe Coding
Skills
Logical thinking · divergent problem solving · attention to detail · resilience
Age 12+Creator

Apply computer science to real-life problems, understand modern technology, and build projects for the community with it.

Courses
PythonAI ProgrammingWeb applicationsPython frameworksUnityEntrepreneurship
Skills
Logical thinking · self-learning · patience · communication and empathy
Age 14+ · Exam coursesComputer Science for IGCSE · AS & A Level · AP · IB DP

New course · AI Vibe Coding

Describe it. AI drafts it. You make it right.

In AI Vibe Coding, students build real apps by describing what they want in plain English or Chinese. An AI coding assistant writes the first draft. Students then read every line, test it, fix it and make it their own.

01Describe

Write a clear prompt: who it is for and what it should do.

02Generate

An AI assistant drafts the code in seconds.

03Test

Run it, try to break it and check the facts.

04Improve

Read every line, fix what is wrong and add what is missing.

Age 10+ 1.5 hours per class Beginner · Intermediate No coding experience needed

Students build a personal website, a quiz game, a chatbot helper and a mini app published online. They also learn to check AI output, protect personal data and say which tools they used.

future-keys · ai-studioDEMO
Your prompt 

        
PreviewREADY

      

      

    

  







  

    

      
Courses

      
Find the right course for your child.

      
Choose your child's age and an area they love. Classes run 1 to 1.5 hours with professionally trained instructors.

    

    

      

      
    

    

    

    
  







  

    

      
Learning paths

      
Four paths, with a clear next step at every stage.

      
The Introductory path builds the foundation. The Design, Coding and AI paths lead to the professional tools used in industry. Select any course to see what it covers and how long it takes.

    

    

    

      

      
    

  







  

    

      
Computer science in motion

      
Computer science, made visible.

      
Algorithms, logic, binary and neural networks are the ideas our students carry from Scratch all the way to A Level. Each one below is running live.

    

    

      

        
BUBBLE SORTPASS 1

        
Algorithms
Bubble sort
Neighbours are compared and swapped until the list is in order. Students build it in Scratch first, then in Python.

      

      

        

          LOGIC · AND
          
          0
          0
          
          AND
          
          
          
        

        
Logic
The AND gate
The output is 1 only when both inputs are 1. Every processor is built from gates like this.

      

      

        
BINARY · 8 BIT0HEX 0x00

        
Data
Counting in binary
Eight switches can hold any number from 0 to 255. Everything a computer stores starts here.

      

      

        
NEURAL NETWORK

        
AI
A neural network
Signals flow forward through weighted connections. Students train their own models in AI Programming.

      

    

  







  

    

      
Pathway to the future

      
From a first block of code at 4 to a future of their own.

      
Scroll, or press any stop, and the rover drives there: four age stages, exams and competitions, then the university subjects and careers these skills lead to.

    

    

      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
          
        
      
    

    

    

    

      
University subjects these skills lead to
Computer ScienceSoftware EngineeringAI & Data ScienceRobotics & MechatronicsElectrical EngineeringGame & Interaction Design

      
And the careers they open
Software engineerAI and machine-learning engineerRobotics engineerGame developerHardware and IoT engineerProduct designerFounder
These are the directions the skills point to; every student's route is their own.

    

  







  

    

      
Our approach

      
Game-based curriculum. Project-based learning.

      
Children learn to code through lessons that also teach teamwork, logic, maths and problem solving. Whether or not they pursue coding as a career, these skills help them pursue their dreams.

    

    

      

        
What makes us different

        
Project-based learning
Real projects from day one. Teachers pose problems and students solve them together in groups.

        
21st-century skills
Critical thinking, collaboration and creativity, practised in every lesson.

        
Hands-on learning
Every concept is reinforced by making something.

        
Makers workshop and Fab Lab
3D printing and prototyping tools that turn ideas into objects.

        
Game-based curriculum
Learning feels like play, so children want to come back.

      

      

        
Our classroom standards

        
How every class is spent.

        
        

          
Project-based learning · hands-on
Active learning with interest-based projects. Teachers stay flexible and engaged, and mistakes are expected and forgiven.
60%

          
Lesson · key terms
Builds vocabulary and links ideas to daily life, with plenty of examples and class activities.
15%

          
Unplugged activity
Games and puzzles with cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.
15%

          
Recap
Reviews the last project, sharpens observation and helps memory.
10%

        

      

    

  







  

    

      
Designed in-house

      
We designed our own teaching board. Meet Hexky.

      
Hexky is the CircuitPython board Future Keys designed for teaching. In its signature project, students tilt the board to steer a marble through a maze, learning the X and Y axes in the real world.

      

        
LanguageCircuitPython

        
Age10+

        
SensorAccelerometer

        
BusI2C

        
OutputServo motion

        
SkillCircuit design

      

    

    

      
        FIG. 02 — HEXKY TILT MAZE
        X / Y AXIS
        
          
          
          
          
          
        
        
        
        HEXKY
        
        
        I2C · SERVO
        
        X
        
        Y
        TILT → ACCELEROMETER → SERVO → MARBLE
      
    

  







  

    

      
Track record

      
Results in competition. Projects with industry.

      
Our students have entered 12+ competitions in China and internationally, and we deliver real projects with well-known companies.

    

    

      

        
    
          
  • VEX V5 Asia Open2nd place · 2024–25
    • 
          
  • American Computer Science League (ACSL)Perfect score achieved
    • 
          
  • World Robot Olympiad (WRO)International robotics
    • 
          
  • FIRST LEGO League (FLL)Global STEM competition
    • 
          
  • Robotex World Robot Festival21st Robotex · Yangtze River Delta
    • 
          
  • MIT App Inventor AppathonAppathon for Good 2022
    • 
          
  • VEX IQ & VEX V5 Robotics CompetitionSeason events
    • 
        

      

      

        
Companies we worked with

        

          
SignifyShanghai Bund project

          
NikeGame project for Nike Arcade, Nanjing Road

          
JAKA RoboticsRobotic hand camp

        

      

    

  







  

    

      
Schools & camps

      
In your school, and through the holidays.

      
We partner with universities, schools, kindergartens and entrepreneurs to bring 21st-century learning centres to communities.

    

    

      

        
For schools & kindergartens

        
Bring STEAM into your school

        

          
After-school programmes
Coding, design, maker, robotics and AI classes taught on your campus by our instructors.

          
Curriculum integration
Units that connect to IGCSE, A Level, AP and DP Computer Science.

          
Competition coaching
VEX, WRO and FLL robotics teams, plus coding-contest preparation.

          
Teacher development
Ready-made curriculum and teacher training.

        

      

      

        
Holiday camps

        
A week of making, ending in a demo

        

          
July – AugustSummer coding camp
Full-week coding projects, game-development challenges, robot building and team competitions, with a certificate of completion.

          
January – FebruaryWinter tech camp
AI and future technology, 3D-printing design sprints, Python and web bootcamps, an app hackathon and a parent demo day.

          
Spring break & Golden WeekAI & robotics camp
WRO and FLL competition prep, AI model training, company visits, guest speakers and innovation pitches.

        

        Dates and themes are published each season.
      

    

  







  

    

      
Join Future Keys

      
Start with a trial class.

      
Four steps to start. The first is simply telling us your child's age and interests.

    

    

      
Step 01Send an enquiry
Tell us your child's age and interests.

      
Step 02Trial class
Join a hands-on trial lesson.

      
Step 03Find the stage
Our teachers recommend the right stage and course.

      
Step 04Enrol & build
Join a class and start building.

    

    

      

        
Book a trial class

        

        

        

          

        

        

        

        

          
          
Name, child's age and phone or WeChat are required.