Purposeful Use of Personal Learning Devices to Enrich Learning

We thank Ms Zhang Li for sharing her concerns on students' use of Personal Learning Devices (PLDs) ("个人学习设备不应成为默认的学习方式", 27 July 2026).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises that students learn best through a variety of learning experiences. In this, educational technology should be used in an age- and developmentally-appropriate manner. The use of PLDs, intended only at the secondary level, is intended to complement rather than replace other modes of learning. In person discussions, use of print materials for reading and writing, and hands-on experimentation and fieldwork continue to be important learning modalities.

The Personalised Digital Learning Programme aims to equip students with digital literacy and technological skills, and help them develop good digital habits. To ensure that PLDs are used purposefully, teachers are guided to integrate educational technology into teaching and learning, including when and how to deploy digital tools. Teachers curate the use of PLDs based on lesson objectives, lesson design and learning principles, so that the technology enriches rather than replaces other forms of learning. Through Cyber Wellness lessons in Character and Citizenship Education, students also learn to be safe and responsible users of technology, and to manage their own device use and screen time.

We note Ms Zhang's concern about cumulative screen time across subjects and students' access to non-educational content. Schools are guided to take a holistic, school-wide approach to technology use that considers students' well-being, including maintaining a healthy balance of online and offline activities. All PLDs are installed with a Device Management Application, which allows MOE and schools to set appropriate levels of web content filtering, including filtering objectionable content or content that may not be conducive to teaching and learning. Parents may also set additional restrictions through parental controls.

The partnership with parents is key in managing our students' digital device use. MOE will continue to work closely with schools and parents in the purposeful use of PLDs to support students' learning, while preserving the full range of learning experiences to develop our students holistically. We will also continue to share resources and strategies to support parents in guiding their child's device use at home.

Mdm Lee Lin Yee
Divisional Director, Educational Technology
Ministry of Education

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有效使用个人学习设备以丰富学习

谨答复《联合早报·交流站》于7月28日刊登的张瓅读者投函 《个人学习设备不应成为默认的学习方式》：我们感谢张女士就学生使用个人学习电子配备（Personal Learning Device，简称PLD）的情况所表达的担忧。

教育部明白学生通过多样化的学习体验，方可取得最佳学习效果。因此，教育科技的使用应符合学生的年龄和发展阶段。PLD仅适用于中学阶段，旨在补充而非取代其他学习方式。面对面讨论、使用纸质材料阅读和写作，以及动手实践和实地考察，仍然是重要的学习方式。

个人化数码学习计划（Personalised Digital Learning Programme）旨在培养学生的数码素养和科技技能，并帮助他们养成良好的数码习惯。为确保PLD得到有效利用，教师都根据指导将教育科技融入教学，包括何时以及如何使用数码工具。教师根据课程目标、课程设计和学习原则来规划PLD的使用，使科技丰富而非取代其他学习方式。通过品格与公民教育中的网络健康课程，学生会学习如何安全且负责任地使用科技产品，以及管理自己的设备使用和屏幕时间。

我们注意到张女士对学生所有科目累计的屏幕时间和浏览非教育内容的担忧。学校会根据指导原则，采用全面的全校参与模式，来指导兼顾学生身心健康的科技使用，其中包括保持线上和线下活动的健康平衡。所有PLD均已安装管理应用程序（Device Management Application），教育部和学校可设置适当的网络内容过滤级别，包括过滤不良内容或不利于教学的内容。家长也可以通过家长控制功能设置额外的限制。

与家长合作是管理学生数码设备使用的关键。教育部在有效使用PLD以支持学生学习方面，会继续与学校和家长紧密合作，同时保留丰富的学习体验，以促进学生的全面发展。我们也会继续分享资源和策略，帮助家长在家里指导孩子的设备使用。

李遴瑜
教育科技司统筹司长
教育部