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AsiaOne
11-06-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
Students must be more critical, discerning: Experts weigh in on online peer-tutoring channels, Singapore News
To encourage themselves and their peers to hit the books, some Singaporean students have taken to platforms such as Telegram to offer guidance and support. Mohammed Danie Dahlan is one such student. The 18-year-old started a Telegram channel named socialstudieslovers in October 2023 after completing his GCE N-levels, where he shares Social Studies notes and exam strategies. A check by AsiaOne on Wednesday (June 10) showed that the channel has about 1,620 subscribers. While such online platforms can be an effective means to reinforce learning, experts say that students must continue to practice critical thinking and discernment while utilising them. Dr Lee Ai Noi, senior lecturer at the National Institute of Education's (NIE) Psychology and Child & Human Development department, told AsiaOne that peer tutoring can be highly effective when thoughtfully organised. She added that online peer tutoring initiatives, such as student-led groups on platforms like Telegram, offer convenience and immediacy, allowing students to share notes, clarify doubts, and support each other in real time. However, in the absence of teacher supervision or formal quality checks, the reliability and depth of shared content can vary significantly. Pointing out that students at the Primary and Secondary level might not have the ability to assess whether the information they receive is accurate or appropriate, Dr Lee said: "Informal online peer tutoring is most effective when supported by some level of oversight, structure, or moderation. "These elements can help safeguard learning quality and ensure a positive, balanced experience for all participants." Such platforms a 'natural response' Associate Professor Gregory Arief D Liem, a lecturer in the same department, echoed similar views to Dr Lee. "These (services) call for students to be more critical, more discerning and take personal responsibility in terms of to what extent they should engage," he told AsiaOne. He also stated that such online communities and platforms are "a natural response" given the importance placed on academic performance in Singapore and the digital era we are in. "It is understandable that this phenomenon is arising because of the strong motivation for Singaporean students to do well in their studies," he said. Dr Rebecca Chan, also from NIE's Psychology and Child & Human Development department, described the sustainability of such peer tutoring initiatives as a "two-way street". Speaking to AsiaOne, she said: "Teaching is only sustainable when the 'teacher' keeps learning and remains curious about the subject matter to stay current and relevant. "It is a two-way street where student peers raise questions that challenge the tutor... who is motivated and curious enough to delve deeper into areas that initially baffled them in search of answers." "Even if it is not sustainable, it is still a cause for celebration — our youth have initiated and learnt to harness social media for learning and teaching." Managing such channels not easy: Students Speaking to AsiaOne, Danie said that managing his channel is hard work as he has to ensure that it remains active, answer students' questions in a timely manner and ensure that the content he puts out is on-par with the syllabus taught in schools. Despite this, the first-year Polytechnic student said he enjoys juggling multiple responsibilities and thrives in fast-paced environments. To keep himself on task, Danie sets goals such as posting minimally once a week to remind students to revise certain topics or improve their understanding of the subject as a whole. He also began offering tutoring services over Zoom between August and October last year, charging $5 per hour. He has coached around 20 students taking their O and N-level examinations to date. Raina Nafisa, 17, started The Muggers in July last year before her O-level English Oral examination. The channel consolidates study tips, notes, and helpful resources across subjects from various sources in Singapore. Speaking to AsiaOne, the student said that she would manage most matters pertaining to the channel with the help of a few friends. But after a few months of doing so, Raina felt she is dedicating too much time to the initiative. She then decided to hand over the reins of the channel to her friend, Kara Wee, who was already helping to facilitate Zoom sessions, shortly after their O-levels. "I feel that she is more proficient than I was; from finding resources to talking with just managing her time in general," Raina said. Wee, a Year 5 student at St Joseph's Institution, told AsiaOne: "While hosting all the zoom lectures, I developed a profound sense of accomplishment knowing that I was able to help so many of my peers with their academics." She added that many students have even approached and thanked her personally since she took ownership of The Muggers. When asked if the two have any future plans for the channel, they mentioned discussions about turning it into a tuition centre. Otherwise, it will continue to be a network of resources for future students to use, they added. [[nid:718488]]
Straits Times
08-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Singapore teens are creating their own study culture – one Telegram channel at a time
First-year polytechnic student Mohammed Danie Dahlan owns the "socialstudieslovers" Telegram channel that has over 1,500 subscribers. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG Singapore teens are creating their own study culture – one Telegram channel at a time SINGAPORE – Students here are building a parallel study culture of their own, through Telegram channels and other online spaces. There now exists a new subculture of student-owned Telegram broadcast channels, where students share study tips and notes, with some also documenting aspects of their school life. Over 20 of such channels have sprouted in the last two years and have become the go-to space for many looking for peer-driven support outside the classroom, apart from official resources like the Singapore Student Learning Space where teachers upload study materials for students. Secondary 4 student Rachel Ho said she has benefited greatly from joining these channels as they provide her with many resources to beef up her own notes. The 16-year-old often visits these groups before examinations to seek clarification for certain subjects, such as chemistry. This way, she does not need to 'disturb' her teachers at odd hours, she said. To make sure the notes that she comes across are reliable, she also compares them with her textbook. Starting her 'bluejaystudio' Telegram channel in May 2022 has made 19-year-old Ceri Chin Song Ai more motivated to complete her tasks. She posts daily tasks such as her homework or revision plans on her channel, which helps her stay accountable to her 300 anonymous subscribers. It helps that she, like many of her peers, spends a lot of time on Telegram. 'When I am on Telegram texting my friends, I might be reminded to study more so that I can also update my Telegram channel,' said the teen, who has graduated from junior college and is awaiting the start of her university studies. Raina Nafisa, 17, owner of 'The Muggers' Telegram channel, which had over 2,300 subscribers at its peak, started the Telegram channel in July 2024 during her O-level year to share her notes and study advice with others as she wanted to motivate them to study. Alongside her Telegram channel, she also previously hosted a study group on the Yeolpumta (YPT) study app. The application allows students to track their study hours with a timer and helps them to be disciplined by restricting access to other apps on their electronic devices. Groups of up to 50 users can be formed, across educational levels from secondary school to university. Each group has a leader board displaying the usernames of students who clock the most hours studying daily. Raina, who declined to reveal where she is studying now, finds YPT helpful as it pushes her to study more. She said: 'I would feel the pressure to study more than the person ahead of me on the leader board, although, as time went on, I realised that the quality of study matters more than the quantity.' Some students have also turned their study channels into a side gig. Aspiring to be a teacher, 18-year-old Mohammed Danie Dahlan started posting his own social studies notes in 2023 right after his N-level exams. His 'socialstudieslovers' channel on Telegram now has over 1,500 subscribers. The first-year polytechnic student also gives advice on answering techniques. First-year polytechnic student Mohammed Danie Dahlan, who owns the 'socialstudieslovers' channel on Telegram, offers academic help like advice on answering techniques. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG In September 2024, he began to host one-to-one online consultations over Zoom with students, at a rate of $5 an hour. He has since coached around 20 students taking their O- and N-level examinations. Beyond academic help, some Telegram channels try to offer emotional support to subscribers. Junior college student Liesl Leong, 17, who owns the 'smartie patootie' channel, gave her personal Telegram contact to her more than 200 subscribers so they can seek advice. She created the channel in July 2024 in Secondary 4. When the O-level results were released in 2024, she provided emotional support over text to one of her subscriber s who did not do well. She attributed the rise in these channels partly to secondary school students now owning personal learning devices (PLDs) issued by schools. She said: 'I wouldn't even have started a Telegram channel if I didn't see how I could reach out to others. The PLDs have definitely helped students familiarise themselves with platforms such as Telegram and have provided access to those who previously lacked it.' Secondary 4 student Desirae Tay Xuan, owner of the 'Rae's study corner' channel, said that online spaces supplement school support. 'Online communities offer a more judgment-free environment. Since most students are strangers, students feel safer asking for help without the fear of being judged,' said the 16-year-old. 'I also get limited practice papers from my school as they only provide me with past-year papers from my own school. These channels help to fill that gap, giving me access to a broader range of materials.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
