Singaporean parents are worried that a growing number of secondary students are using school-issued personal learning devices (PLDs) for entertainment rather than education.

Singapore’s Straits Times reported that many students admitted to spending more time on YouTube and TikTok than on educational platforms like Google Classroom, despite receiving the devices to assist with learning.

“Within a few days, I saw that they had figured out how to use various chat, entertainment and gaming apps on their devices,” said a secondary school teacher who was cited anonymously.

“Many would then choose to stay back in class to use their Chromebooks during recess and lunchtime, instead of going down to the canteen to eat and socialise.”

These devices, often iPads or Chromebooks, were introduced for home-based learning since 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, but parents say they are more of a distraction.

“I feel like 007. I constantly have to outwit my child so that he doesn’t misuse his PLD,” said a parent, who admitted to his son heading to the bathroom during study time at home just to play games.

“The kids find out how to reset the factory settings, and then we have to start all over again. I feel like trust has been lost, and it has impacted relationships in the family,” added another parent, whose son had reset parental controls on his PLD.

Several parents mentioned that screen time checks revealed their children spent up to four hours daily on non-educational activities while at school with apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Spotify.

The devices are pre-installed with management software to limit access to inappropriate content, but many students have found ways around these restrictions.

Schools argue that the devices enhance learning, with students gaining digital literacy and better engagement through educational platforms.

However, teachers have mixed feelings, with some opting to forgo the devices in class due to connectivity issues and distractions.

Despite these concerns, the Singapore Ministry of Education maintained that devices are essential for developing technological skills, and it will continue to work with parents to support responsible usage.

Original article here.

If you're curious about how it works, check out the new video showcasing AI Assistant in action. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking to enhance their instructional design with cutting-edge technology!

Main Points:

• Mobile learning platforms are enhancing employee upskilling by providing personalized and interactive experiences in various skills, leading to quicker assessments, better retention, and improved productivity.

• Around 67% of U.S. companies have integrated mobile learning partially, offering a competitive advantage through a mobile Learning Management System (LMS).

• Key skills shaped by mobile learning platforms include digital literacy, cybersecurity, soft skills like communication and leadership, creative skills, critical thinking, project management methodologies, and technical expertise.

• Mobile learning enables continuous access to resources, personalized competency plans, and immediate practice, fostering innovation and adaptability in a digital-first world.

Read the full article here.

Have you ever heard of Imposter Syndrome? It's the nagging feeling of doubting your abilities and believing you're a fraud, even when evidence suggests otherwise. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many of us experience these thoughts at different points in our lives, thinking, "I don't deserve this success," or "I just got lucky." The good news is that there are effective ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome. Here's how:

1. Recognize Imposter Syndrome

The first step in overcoming Imposter Syndrome is to acknowledge it for what it is. Simply being aware that you are experiencing these feelings is crucial. Recognize that doubting your abilities doesn’t make those doubts true.

2. Talk to Someone You Trust

Feeling like an imposter can be isolating, but you don't have to go through it alone. Share your feelings with someone you trust. Talking about it can provide invaluable perspective and support, helping you realize that these thoughts are common and not a reflection of your actual abilities.

3. Celebrate Your Achievements

No matter how small, your achievements are worth celebrating. Taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments can help build your confidence. Remember, you've earned every bit of your success through hard work and dedication.

4. Practice Self-Compassion

Being kind to yourself is essential when dealing with Imposter Syndrome. Everyone has imperfections, and that's perfectly okay. Allow yourself the grace to be imperfect while still striving to do your best. Self-compassion can be a powerful tool in silencing your inner critic.

Don't Let It Grow

When you feel these thoughts creeping in, confront them head-on. The longer you allow them to persist unchecked, the stronger they can become. Nip Imposter Syndrome in the bud by actively challenging negative thoughts and reinforcing your self-belief.

By taking these steps, you can combat Imposter Syndrome, boost your self-confidence, and ensure it doesn't hold you back.

If you're looking for more tips on productivity and digital education, follow us on social media or sign up for our email list. Remember, you can overcome Imposter Syndrome and thrive in all your endeavors.

Many online educators struggle with the challenge of coaxing learners to maintain their motivation and interest to complete their courses. Studies show that completion rates can often only be 5 to 15% of learners. There are however some proven strategies that can help you boost your learners' engagement and motivation, and ultimately increase your course's success.

The following strategies may be of help:

• Set a clear deadline for completion and communicate it to your learners. This will create a sense of urgency and accountability, and help them prioritize their learning.

• Break the course into smaller steps with regular timelines. This will make the course more manageable and achievable, and reduce the risk of overwhelm and procrastination.

• Block time in calendars for learning. This will help your learners plan ahead and dedicate time to their learning, without distractions or interruptions.

• Have a clear "why" for your course. This will help your learners understand the value and benefits of your course, and how it relates to their personal or professional goals.

• Provide feedback and support. This will help your learners monitor their progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and get guidance and encouragement from you or other learners.

• Gamify your course. This will make your course more fun and engaging, and reward your learners for their efforts and achievements.

• Celebrate completion. This will acknowledge your learners' hard work and success, and make them feel proud and satisfied.

By following these steps, you can create a more effective and enjoyable online learning experience for your learners, and increase your online course completion rates significantly.

Over the past two years, digital content has hit an all-time high, and major educational publishers have adopted a digital-first strategy. There are a number of benefits of digital publishing such as the following:

Access to User Behavior & Content Performance

Digital devices make it easy to analyze what type of content drew the most engagement and assess the return on investment.

A Wider Reach

Online publishing platforms enable educational content creators to reach out to users across borders without producing more study material.

Ease of Storage & Management

Hundreds of eBooks can be stored on a single digital device, saving on storage space for both students and publishers.

Additional Costs Saved

When purchasing an eBook, the cost of printing, transportation, publishing, cover creation, distribution, and various other all-and-sundry charges are eliminated, enabling publishers to significantly reduce their overall production costs.

It’s Eco-Friendly

Online book publishing can help protect the environment and save 34 billion sheets of paper being used in schools each year.

Save a Significant Amount of Time

Creating a traditional textbook can take up a lot of time. With an online publishing platform, the middlemen can be eliminated and eBooks can be shared with students almost immediately.

How can you make your live online lessons more interactive? One approach is to request answers to questions in the chat box feature of tools such as Teams and Webex. This does help in making the session more interactive, but there are better options available.

One tool which I have used is the Slido integration with Webex Meetings. When used with Webex this integration does not require attendees to open up another browser window and enter a code. Rather you can now within the meeting app itself utilise a range of questions such as words clouds, surveys, polls and Q&A.

Slido integrates with a range of tools such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, though the level of integration and user experience differs between the different tools. For more information please see the article here.

My son (who is now at a secondary school which has issued all new students with Chromebooks) has asked me this question a few times since the start of the academic year.

My response has been, "Why? You have your own laptop to complete your work don't you?" My son has then explained that his teacher has provided the class with a link to a YouTube video which is blocked on their devices.

I assume this issue will be cropping up a fair bit with schools as they try to balance student online safety with accessing resources.

One possible solution is to download the video in question from YouTube, and then upload it to a video streaming platform such as Microsoft Stream which is provided to schools with their Microsoft 365 subscription.

Download Tool

There are many free tools available for downloading videos, one which I have used often on a Windows computer and which I can recommend is the following:

4K

Microsoft Stream

For more information on Microsoft Stream please take a look here.

Please be mindful of usage rights when downloading and sharing.

You Haven't Trained The Users

The most important thing in the eLearning process is that your learners can use the software you are providing them. Make sure they are familiar with the platform you have chosen and create an introductory lesson.

You Have Chosen The Wrong LMS

To avoid hybrid learning pitfalls, make sure your Learning Management System has the functionality you need for your learning process such as hosting content and being able to track learners in detail (if that is what you would like).

You Are Using The Wrong Content

To create interesting eLearning content, you have to use innovative, media-centered content. If you don't have content, you can find a suitable content provider and adapt your previous content to your current needs.

You Are Not Aware Of Your Organisation's Needs

To create the perfect eLearning plan for your organization, you have to consider the learners' needs and create a range of learning materials with the engaging content. Budget is another factor you should consider in order to create engaging content.

Conclusion

To avoid the most common hybrid learning pitfalls, train your learners, use the correct LMS, create engaging content, and do some research on eLearning trends and your organisation's learning and budget needs.

This post has been summarized, edited and improved upon from the lengthier original version here.