In today’s digital age, the use of electronic devices in learning has increasingly become normalised. However, the prevalent use of them does have its downfalls. Find out if electronic devices are really necessary in learning and some must-know tips when it comes to using them.
Example of electronic devices : Laptops / tablets
Pros of using an electronic device
- Electronic devices will be of great help especially since schools are starting to allocate one day for home based learning and are transitioning to using online platforms such as Google classroom or Student’s Learning Space to upload materials.
- Some teachers / schools may upload learning resources online instead of giving out hard copy versions of notes / worksheets → Having a laptop / tablet will make it easier to access these materials and annotate on them when necessary
- Having an electronic device to store all your study notes and materials will be very convenient when you are going out to study so you will not have to bring all your books and worksheets out.
- Group projects → Having an electronic device will facilitate collaboration with peers
Cons of using an electronic device
- Having an electronic device can be distracting especially with the ability to download social media applications. (Eg: Tiktok and Instagram)
- Over time, students may develop an overreliance on electronic devices for their learning which can be detrimental in the long-term.
Tips when it comes to using electronic devices
- Leave phones out of sight and out of reach when studying; Avoid downloading any distractor apps on your tablets / laptops and use them solely for downloading apps for studying
- Download focus apps such as Forest which keeps you in deep focus mode and prevents you from using your phone when you are running the app on the device
- Electronic devices have this time limit function for certain applications. → Get your friend to set a time limit for certain applications for you and set a passcode
- Airplane mode / do not disturb mode → Prevents distraction from incoming notifications when studying
Where to get electronic devices?
- School suppliers → Some schools will partner up with vendors and offer discounts to their students for the purchase of electronic devices
- MOE Digital Literacy Programme
- All Secondary 1 students will be able to use the funds in their Edusave account to offset the cost for their personal learning device
- Families on FAS can apply for further subsidies
- NEU PC Plus Programme
- Offers low-income households students the opportunity to own a brand new computer at an affordable price. (Not applicable to secondary school students under the MOE Digital Literacy Programme)
All in all, electronic devices definitely have the potential to complement your learning as long as they are used wisely. If you want to know more about useful study tips to take up, feel free to check out our Study Guide blog posts here.
