23 July 2021

Some tuition centres are again pivoting to virtual lessons, although the government has stipulated in-person tuition classes may continue with class sizes of up to 50 provided that students are split into groups of two.

The students who attend virtual classes do not need to travel, thus saving time and energy. Virtual learning is also safer for them.

Some tuition centres have adopted a hybrid approach of virtual and physical lessons until Aug 18.

There are real benefits to in-person classes that online alternatives cannot match.

Demand for tuition centres has not diminished, especially for students taking national examinations.

21 July 2021

Temasek Polytechnic has launched a training facility called Smart e-Commerce Centre (SMEC) which aims to equip students and alumni with the skills to enter the e-commerce industry.

The centre includes two unmanned physical stores on campus – 1stAvenue Omni and 1st Avenue Originals – which will allow customers to purchase products using self-checkout stations.

SMEC also runs an online store, 1st Avenue Online, which is in operation and allows purchases via computers, smartphones or an on-site touch-screen monitor.

SMEC will also provide training opportunities for working adults pursuing courses in e-commerce branding and digital marketing, workplace digital literacy and inventory management.

20 July 2021

Tiarra Ko, an 18-year-old student at Hwa Chong Institution, copes with revision for her A-level exams by studying with her friends via video calls, with the audio on mute.

A few months before her O-level examinations two years ago, she asked her parents for permission to sign up for hip-hop dance classes.

Taking time from revision for a hobby, or having a group of supportive friends, are good strategies to cope with academic stress.

Mild stress can be beneficial. At low levels, stress can be helpful and motivating.

Mental or emotional preparation is just as important as academic preparation. Mental preparation helps students remain calm and centered, so they can think clearly.

15 July 2021

Mrs Yvonne Kong-Ho, a parent to a 12 year old son and a 10 year old daughter, calls herself a “low-tech, high-touch” parent. Her son has a basic phone which he uses to call and text her when he is in school, while her daughter has no devices.

She says, “Social media, smartphones, it’s like a knife. You can use it for good or you can use it for bad purposes.”

Experts agree with her. In the post-pandemic world where screens are used to learn, socialise and destress, it is more important than ever that parents teach their kids to master digital life skills and become digitally resilient. In addition, as children’s digital footprints expanded exponentially last year during the pandemic, so did the threats to their online safety.

Dr Yuhyun Park, founder of DQ Institute, an international think-tank, says: “Digital parenting is not about parents having control over their children’s technology use. Rather, it is about parents empowering them to be good digital citizens who can minimise risks and maximise potential in the digital world.”