Critical Reflection

Write a critically reflective post on the topic “The Role of Peer and Tutor Feedback." Explain your view of that feedback, how it impacted your developing writing skills, and whether/how you might have transferred content, organization and language skills learned in the course to writing assignments within any other module.

In Brad’s classes, we were tasked to feedback on each other’s assignments through commenting on each other's blogposts. The reason behind this approach is to make lessons more interesting and efficient. Through these peer review processes, we were exposed to a wider range of common mistakes instead of only our own’s. Initially, I felt stressful sometimes as I was not good at grammar. I was worried that the errors that I pointed out were incorrect as well.

After weeks of learning and feedbacks, I found that the experience was not as bad as I initially thought it would be. Everyone in the class had a common goal in mind, and that was to improve our English. We are not here to judge other people’s skills and abilities. We should set off with a mindset to learn and improve, not to worry about being judged or laughed at.

Through this experience, I have benefited and learnt a lot regarding grammar and other language stuffs. Lessons were also more interesting as it was a new approach (multiple drafts, posting of assignments on blog, and peer feedbacks etc.) that I had never experience before. Through Brad’s unique classes, I realized that I need to be more confident in whatever I do. No one is perfect, and we should not be afraid to make mistakes. Like what Brad always tells us- it is okay to make mistakes but most importantly, is the ability to correct these mistakes after multiple proof-readings.

As my ES1102 journey comes to an end, I do noticed that I have improved and gained more confident in my grammar skills. I had never thought of being the one who proofread and correct the grammatical mistakes in my group project reports. It might be because my other group members were also bad at grammar, but I choose to believe that ES1102 has given me this ability.



-Edited 15 Nov 2014

Essay draft 4 (Final)

Question: Discuss a “divide” that exists due to the lack of ICT or other digital technology in a particular country/academic discipline, and propose measures that could be implemented to address the problem. 

Foreign workers play an important role in Singapore's economy as they accept the low-paying jobs which most Singaporeans are not willing to do. According to the statistics provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (“Foreign workforce numbers,” 2014), there were about 0.3 million foreigners working in Singapore’s construction sector as of June 2014. The focus of this essay will be on these foreign workers who are working in Singapore's construction sector. Despite the rapid development and availability of Information & Communication Technology(ICT) in Singapore, a large number of these foreign workers remain “disconnected” from the Internet as they do not have the financial capability to own an ICT device. As a result, this leads to a digital divide between them and their employers as they face several disadvantages due to information failure or imperfect knowledge. Occasionally, there are cases of foreign workers in Singapore being treated unfairly by their employers due to different factors. One of the main factors allowing the employers to do so is the existence of information discrepancy between them and their workers. The Singapore (government’s) Ministry of Manpower can address the problem of this information discrepancy by forcing employers to provide the means by which workers can access the internet, and also putting in more effort in getting the necessary information and skills across to the workers.

The digital divide between the foreign workers and their employers exists mainly in the form of information discrepancy. When their average monthly wages range between $480 to $1500 (Chia & Zaccheus, 2012), foreign workers depending on their nationalities generally do not have the (additional) spending power to own ICT devices due to their low income, and the need to set aside money for remittance. Without a proper ICT device, they are unable to access the Internet, which contains lots of information and platforms which they can seek help from. As such, this poses a kind of information failure which the employer may abuse and put the workers at a disadvantage.

Despite the government’s efforts to “protect foreign workers’ rights” (Ng, 2009), there are still many cases of unfair treatments by employers. According to a survey by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to assisting low-wage migrant workers when they are in difficulty, one third of the 328 male foreign workers surveyed are not paid what they are supposed to be paid (“One third of male,” 2014). Another recent survey by TWC2 suggests that 26 to 40 percent of male migrant workers are illegally forced to forfeit a portion of their pay as a form of “saving money” (“20 to 40 percent of,” 2014a). These same workers may be easily “misled” by their employers, since they come from another country and do not know the rights they are entitled to in Singapore. With little free time available due to long working hours, and little or no connection to people that can help them, they can only wait for help to arrive instead of asking for help. However, with the aid of the Internet, it would be easier and more convenient for them to retrieve the information needed or to address their queries when they feel that they are mistreated.

The abovementioned examples demonstrate that the digital divide that exists between these foreign workers and their employers is mainly in the form of information discrepancy. Even though information discrepancy is not the sole factor contributing to the unfair or unjust treatments the workers received, it makes it easier for the employers to take advantage of them. Furthermore, the lack of access to the Internet makes it difficult for these workers to seek help from an appropriate platform.

As mentioned previously, the main reason why foreign workers remain “disconnected” is due to their limited financial capability. Providing them with subsidized computer would not be a wise option as they could easily abuse the system by selling the computer bought with the subsidies and earning quick money. To ensure that they are able to get the necessary ICT equipment, MOM could force employers to set up an “Internet Corner” in the workers’ accommodation premises. This enabled the foreign workers to have access to the Internet and necessary ICT equipment without spending huge sums of money.

Some might argue that there is no incentive for the employers to fork out additional capital to provide internet access for their foreign workers. However, the companies can win the hearts of stockholders and public by portraying a good public image (Koening, n.d.) when they provide basic welfare to the workers. In addition, MOM could provide incentives to the employers such as giving out foreign-worker-levy rebates if they opt to do so. 

Another limitation MOM has to consider is the digital literacy of these foreign workers. Fortunately, current technologies are designed to be as user-friendly as possible. This enables those who are new to digital technologies to be able to adapt quickly with appropriate guidance. As such, MOM could organise free courses or events to educate foreign workers on how to take full advantage of the Internet. Besides educating the foreign workers, MOM should also ensure that the foreign workers know where they can seek help from when the need arises. When issuing permits to them, they could make use of the opportunity to inform them about the respective platforms to seek help from, either verbally or in the form of pamphlets. On top of that, MOM could issue informative posters to be put up around the workers’ accommodation premises.

In conclusion, a lack of financial capability is the main reason why foreign workers in Singapore remain “disconnected” from the Internet. This results in a digital divide, mainly in the form of information discrepancy, between them and their employers. Consequently, this information discrepancy makes it easier for the employers to abuse the workers’ rights. On top of that, the existence of digital divide also slows the process of offering help to the workers when they are treated unfairly. In order to address the problems due to this digital divide, MOM could tackle the “divide” by forcing and providing incentives to the employers when they help their workers get “connected”. Additionally, educating these foreign workers on how to make use of the Internet and what are the platforms they can get help from are equally crucial in making the solution feasible. Hence, MOM plays an important role in getting the important information and necessary skills across to them.

Reflection on Essay Presentation

I did not allocate much time for myself to memorise the script as I believed that I would have known the content of my presentation pretty well. I wanted to try to give a more natural presentation (i.e., not following my script format), and deliver the content accordingly to the slides. However, anxiety grew within me once the presentation started and I seem to lost control of myself. I admit, after I started referring to my script, I felt like I was kind of rushing through everything, hoping to finish the presentation and get over with it. I have learnt that preparation and rehearsal should always be done properly. Hope that this kind of disaster presentation would not happen again in the future.

Essay draft 3

Question: Discuss a “divide” that exists due to the lack of ICT or other digital technology in a particular country/academic discipline, and propose measures that could be implemented to address the problem. 

Foreign workers play an important role in Singapore's economy as they accept the low-paying jobs which most Singaporeans are not willing to do. According to the statistics provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower(MOM) (“Foreign workforce numbers,” 2014), there were about 0.3 million foreigners working in Singapore’s construction sector as of June 2014. The focus of this essay will be on these foreign workers who are working in Singapore's construction sector. Despite the rapid development and availability of Information & Communication Technology(ICT) in Singapore, a large number of these foreign workers remain “disconnected” from the Internet as they do not have the financial capability to own an ICT device. As a result, this leads to a digital divide between them and their employers as they face several disadvantages due to information failure or imperfect knowledge. Occasionally, there are cases of foreign workers in Singapore being treated unfairly by their employers due to different factors. One of the main factors allowing the employers to do so is the existence of information discrepancy between them and their workers. Singapore government (Ministry of Manpower) can address the problem of this information discrepancy by forcing employers to provide the means by which workers can access the internet, and also put in more effort in getting the necessary information and skills across to the workers.

Foreign workers generally do not have the additional spending power to own ICT devices due to their low income, and the need to set aside money for remittance. Depending on their nationalities, their average monthly wages range between $480 to $1500 (Chia & Zaccheus, 2012). Without a proper ICT device, they are unable to access the Internet which contains lots of information and platforms which they can seek help from. As such, this poses as a kind of information failure which the employer may abuse and put the workers at a disadvantage.

Despite the government’s efforts to “protect foreign workers’ rights” (Ng, 2009), there are still many cases of unfair treatments by employers. According to a survey by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to assisting low-wage migrant workers when they are in difficulty, one third of the 328 male foreign workers surveyed are not paid what they are supposed to be paid (“One third of male,” 2014). Another recent survey by TWC2 suggests that 26 to 40 percent of male migrant workers are illegally forced to forfeit a portion of their pay as a form of “saving money” (“20 to 40 percent of,” 2014a). These same workers may be easily “misled” by their employers, since they come from another country and do not know the rights they are entitled to in Singapore. With little free time available due to long working hours, and little or no connection to people that can help them, they can only wait for help to arrive instead of asking for help. However, with the aid of the Internet, it would be easier and more convenient for them to retrieve the information needed or to address their queries when they feel that they are mistreated. 

The abovementioned examples prove that the digital divide that exists between these foreign workers and their employers is mainly in the form of information discrepancy. Even though information discrepancy is not the sole factor contributing to the unfair or unjust treatments the workers received, it makes it easier for the employers to take advantage of them. Furthermore, the lack of access to the Internet makes it difficult for the workers to seek help from an appropriate platform.

As mentioned previously, the main reason why foreign workers remain “disconnected” is due to their limited financial capability. Providing them with subsidies is not a wise option as they can easily abuse the system by selling the computer bought with the subsidies and earning quick money. To ensure that they can get the necessary ICT equipment, MOM can force employers to set up an “Internet Corner” in the workers’ accommodation premises. This enables the foreign workers to have access to the Internet and necessary ICT equipment without spending huge sum of money.

Some might argue that there is no incentive for the employers to fork out additional capital to provide internet access for their foreign workers. However, the companies can win the hearts of stockholders and public by portraying a good public image (Koening, n.d.) when they provide basic welfare to the workers. In addition, MOM can provide incentives to the employers such as giving out foreign-worker-levy rebates if they opt to do so. 

Another limitation MOM has to consider is the digital literacy of these foreign workers. Fortunately, current technologies are designed to be as user-friendly as possible. This enables those who are new to digital technologies to be able to adapt quickly with appropriate guidance. As such, MOM can organise free courses or events to educate foreign workers on how to take full advantage of the Internet. Besides educating the foreign workers, MOM should also ensure that the foreign workers know where they can seek help from when the need arises. When issuing permits to them, they can make use of the opportunity to inform them about the respective platforms to seek help from, either verbally or in the form of pamphlets. On top of that, MOM can issue informative posters to be put up around the workers’ accommodation premises.

In conclusion, a lack of financial capability is the main reason why foreign workers in Singapore remain “disconnected” from the Internet. This results in a digital divide, mainly in the form of information discrepancy, between them and their employers. Consequently, this information discrepancy makes it easier for the employers to abuse the workers’ rights. On top of that, the existence of digital divide also slows the process of offering help to the workers when they are treated unfairly. In order to address the problems due to this digital divide, MOM can tackle the “divide” by forcing and providing incentives to the employers when they help their workers get “connected”. Additionally, educating these foreign workers on how to make use of the Internet and what are the platforms they can get help from are equally crucial in making the solution feasible. Hence, MOM plays an important role in getting the important information and necessary skills across to them.

References

Chia, Y. J., & Zaccheus, M. (2012, December 10). Hard life, but foreign workers labour on. AsiaOne. Retrieved from http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121209-388579.html

Foreign workforce numbers. (2014, September 25). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.mom.gov.sg/statisticspublications/others/statistics/Pages/ForeignWorkforceNumbers.aspx

Koening, E. (n.d.). Importance of Employee Welfare. Chron. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-employee-welfare-12998.html

Ng, E. j. (2009, January 16). Government's pledge to protect foreign workers' rights should go beyond mere empty talk. Sgpolitics. Retrieved from http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=1917

One third of male. (2014, July 8). Retrieved from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/07/08/onethirdofmalemigrantworkersdontgetpaidwhattheyredue/

20 to 40 percent of. (2014, September 10). Retrieved from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/09/10/26to40percentofmaleworkerssufferillegalsavingsmoneydeduction/

(TED-Ed) Comma story - Terisa Folaron

Came across this video in my newsfeed, finds it kind of useful and the first thing that came to my mind was es1102~~

Reader Response DRAFT4: Global digital divide persists but is narrowing(Euromonitor International)

According to an blog post from Euromonitor International, the global digital divide remains as a recurring issue, despite the doubling of internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2010 (2011). While there has been a higher increase in internet access and usage growth rates in the developing regions, internet penetration has been more even and more significantly present in developed regions. This is due to greater IT investments from the state, better accessibility and availability of modern technology, and citizens’ higher spending power. Companies in these developed regions are coming up with new business tactics to suit the changing consumptions patterns, which are just one of the many consequences brought about by the availability of internet connection in the various regions (“Global digital divide persists but is narrowing”, 2011).

According to a senior correspondent for NYTimes.com, the Internet has been integrated so deeply into our lives that "few recall what life was like without it" (Cowell, 2014). Euromonitor International’s article mentions that the availability of information on the Internet allows people to learn new skills and retrieve information easily in a short amount of time as compared to traditional means. I personally experienced the transition from having no broadband connection to being able to enjoy the convenience brought about by internet access. It is indeed true that the Internet brings about lots of conveniences. However I can only agree with the article’s assertion to a certain extent, as I believe that the usage of the Internet is still very limited in developing countries due to other important factors such as technology competency and literacy rate.

As a user who has been exposed to digital technology since young, googling and skimming through the results to answer my queries is a piece of cake to me. On the other hand, if I were to ask my parents to search the Internet on how to bake a cake, most probably they would not be able to even if you gave them the fastest broadband and computer. In my opinion, the article above focuses solely on the advantages IT technology can bring about to everyone from any part of the world, be it developed or rural regions. What it does not take into account is that digital technology may be new to the poor in rural regions, and it requires the user to pick up a new set of skills before being able to fully benefit from it.

One can say that skill can be picked up over time, and the modern IT technology including most internet pages are designed for least complication and easy usage. This is generally true. However, it must also be noted that that opening a browser and typing the web address are not the only skills required to surf the net. Just like the newspaper and books, the Internet also consists of words. This brings us to the point that literacy is also a prerequisite to surf the Internet and extracting the information that the user wants. Literacy is a crucial factor especially in rural regions, as education tends to be another issue in these places. In another article about bridging the digital divide in Africa, Treisman(2014) asserts that with more than 33% of the people in Liberia being unable to read or write, “this high tech approach is insufficient to reach all citizens”. As such, being able to access to the Internet does not mean that one can learn new skills and retrieve information from it.

To sum up, the article does well in stating the social impact of internet access and usage, and how it can improve the lives in rural regions. However, in my opinion, the article seems to ignore the other factors that might affect the process of improvement. In other words, the article merely mentions the advantages that the Internet can bring about, and ignores the underlying prerequisites for a person to be able to take full advantage of the Internet.

Reference

Cowell, A. (2014, January 24). Embracing the Power of the Internet. Retrieved September 6,2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/embracing­the­power­of­the­internet. html?_r=0

Euromonitor International. (2011, February 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global­digital­divide­persists­but­is­narrowing­1.ht

ml

Treisman, L. (2014, January 24). Access to information: bridging the digital divide in Africa. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/global­development­professionals­network/2014/jan/24/digital­divide­access­to­information­africa

Essay Draft 2

Foreign workers play an important role in Singapore's economy as they fill up the low-paying jobs which most singaporeans are not willing to take up. According to the statistics(“Foreign workforce numbers,” 2014) provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower(MOM), there are about 0.3 million foreigners working in Singapore’s construction sector as of June 2014. The focus of the essay will be on these foreign workers who are working in Singapore's construction sector. Despite the rapid development and availability of Information & Communication Technology(ICT) in Singapore, a large number of these foreign workers remain “disconnected” from the Internet as they do not have the financial capability to own an ICT device. As a result, this leads to a digital divide between them and their employers as they face several disadvantages due to information failure or imperfect knowledge. Occasionally, there are cases of foreign workers in Singapore being treated unfairly by their employers due to information failure. Singapore government (Ministry of Manpower) can address the problem of this information failure by enforcing employers to provide necessary equipments for internet access.

Foreign workers generally do not have the additional spending power to own ICT devices due to the low income, and the need to set aside money for remittance. Depending on their nationalities, their average monthly wages range between $480 to $1500(Chia & Zaccheus, 2012). Without a proper tool, they are unable to access the Internet which contains lots of information and platforms where they can seek help from. As such, this poses as a kind of information failure which the employer may abuse and put the workers at a disadvantage.

Despite government’s efforts to “protect foreign workers’ rights”(Ng, 2009), there are still many cases of unfair treatments by employers. According to a survey by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organisation, one third of the 328 male foreign workers surveyed are not paid what they are supposed to(“One third of male,” 2014). Another recent survey by TWC2 suggests that 26 to 40 percent of male migrant workers are illegally forced to forfeit a portion of their pay as a form of “saving money”(“20 to 40 percent of,” 2014a). These workers are usually “misled” by their employers, since they came from another country and do not know the rights they are entitled to in Singapore. With little free time available due to long working hours, and little or no connection to people that can help them, they can only wait for help to arrive instead of asking for help. However, with the aid of the Internet, they can access the information needed or address their queries easily when they feel that they are mistreated. 

The reason migrant workers choose to work in a foreign country that they are unfamiliar of, is due to high wages the country can offer. Yet, many foreign workers end up imposing huge “sunk cost” as a result of the “recruitment fees” demanded by their middlemen or agencies that help them to secure the job(Au, 2014). In the same article by Alex Au(2014), the vice president of TWC2, suggested a “digital marketplace for migrant labour jobs” to eliminate the need of middlemen when seeking or changing job. This further substantiates the disadvantages a foreign worker can experience when finding a job without the aid of the Internet.

These examples prove that the digital divide that exist between these foreign workers and the employers are mainly in the form of information discrepancy, and thus resulting in unfair or unjust treatments. Furthermore, the lack of access to the Internet makes it difficult for the workers to seek help from appropriate platform.

As mentioned previously, the main reason why foreign workers remain “disconnected” is due to their limited financial capability. Providing them with subsidies is not a wise option as they can easily abuse the system by selling the computer bought with the subsidies and earning quick money. To ensure that they can get the necessary ICT equipments, MOM can enforce employers to set up an “Internet Corner” in the workers’ accommodation premises. This allows the foreign workers to have access to the Internet and necessary equipments without spending huge sum of money.

Some might argue that there is no incentive for the employers to fork out additional capitals to provide internet access for their foreign workers. However, the companies can win the hearts of stockholders and public by portraying a good public image(Koening, n.d.) when they provide basic welfares to the workers. In addition, MOM can give foreign-worker-levy rebates to the employers if they opt to do so. 

In conclusion, financial capability is the main reason why foreign workers in Singapore remain “disconnected” from the Internet. This results in information discrepancy between them and their employers. This digital divide allows the employers to abuse the workers’ rights. It also slows the process of offering help to the workers when they are treated unfairly. In order to address the problems due to this digital divide, Singapore’s government can tackle the “divide” by enforcing and providing incentives to the employers when they help their workers get “connected”.

References

Au, A. (2014, September 15). Overhauling Singapore's migrant labour system - an alternative plan. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/09/15/overhauling-singapores-migrant-labour-system-an-alternative-plan/

Chia, Y. J., & Zaccheus, M. (2012, December 10). Hard life, but foreign workers labour on. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121209-388579.html

Foreign workforce numbers. (2014, September 25). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.mom.gov.sg/statistics-publications/others/statistics/Pages/ForeignWorkforceNumbers.aspx

Koening, E. (n.d.). Importance of Employee Welfare. Retrieved October 6, 2014, from

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-employee-welfare-12998.html

Ng, E. j. (2009, January 16). Government's pledge to protect foreign workers' rights should go beyond mere empty talk. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=1917

One third of male. (2014, July 8). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/07/08/one-third-of-male-migrant-workers-dont-get-paid-what-theyre-due/

20 to 40 percent of. (2014, September 10). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/09/10/26-to-40-percent-of-male-workers-suffer-illegal-savings-money-deduction/


Edited- 9 October 2014

Essay Draft1

Question: Discuss a “divide” that exists due to the lack of ICT or other digital technology in a particular country/academic discipline, and propose measures that could be implemented to address the problem. 

Introduction

Foreign workers play an important role in Singapore's economy as they fill up the low-paying jobs which most singaporeans are not willing to take up. According to the statistics(“Foreign workforce numbers,” 2014) provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower(MOM), there are about 0.3 million foreigners working in Singapore’s construction sector as of June 2014. In this essay, our focus will be on these foreign workers who work in Singapore's construction sector. Despite the rapid development and availability of Information & Communication Technology(ICT) in Singapore, a large number of these foreign workers remain “disconnected” from the internet as they do not have the financial capability to own an ICT device. As a result, this leads to a digital divide between them and their employers as they face several disadvantages due to information failure or imperfect knowledge. Occasionally, there are cases of foreign workers in Singapore being treated unfairly by their employers due to information failure, Singapore government (Ministry of Manpower) can address the problem of this information failure by enforcing employers to provide necessary equipments for internet access.

Identification of problem

Foreign workers generally do not have the additional spending power to own ICT devices due to their low income and also to the fact that they will often send their wages to their family back in their country of origin. Depending on their nationalities, their average monthly wages range between $480 to $1500(Chia & Zaccheus, 2012). Without a proper tool, they are unable to access the internet which contains lots of information and platforms where they can seek help from. As such, this poses as a kind of information failure which the employer may abuse and put the workers at a disadvantage.

Despite government’s efforts to “protect foreign workers’ rights”(Ng, 2009), there are still many cases of unfair treatments by employers. According to a survey by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-profit organisation, one third of the 328 male foreign workers surveyed are not paid what they are supposed to(“One third of male,” 2014). Another recent survey by TWC2 suggests that 26 to 40 percent of male migrant workers are illegally forced to forfeit a portion of their pay as a form of “saving money”(“20 to 40 percent of,” 2014a). These workers are usually “misled” by their employers, since they came from another country and do not know the rights they are entitled to in Singapore. With little free time available due to long working hours, and little or no connection to people that can help them, they can only wait for help to arrive instead of asking for help. However, with the help of the internet, they can access the information needed or address their queries easily when they feel that they are mistreated. 

The reason migrant workers choose to work in a foreign country that they are unfamiliar of, is due to high wages the country can offer. Despite of that, many foreign workers ended up imposing huge “sunk cost” as a result of the “recruitment fees” demanded by their middlemen or agencies that help them to secure the job(Au, 2014). In the same article by Alex Au(2014), the vice president of TWC2, suggested a “digital marketplace for migrant labour jobs” to eliminate the need of middlemen when seeking or changing job. This shows us the disadvantages a foreign worker can experience when finding a job without the aid of the internet.

The two examples above proves that digital divide that exist between these foreign workers and the employers are mainly in the form of information discrepancy, and thus resulting in unfair or unjust treatments. This divide might not sound like a serious problem itself, but it can greatly hinder the addressing of other more significant problems like wage-related issues.

Solution

As mentioned previously, the main reason why foreign workers remain “disconnected” is due to their limited financial capability. Providing them with subsidies is not a wise option as they can easily abuse the system by selling the computer bought with the subsidies and earning quick money. To ensure that they can get the necessary ICT equipments, Singapore’s government, MOM to be exact, can enforce employers to set up an “Internet Corner” in the workers’ accommodation premises. This allows the foreign workers to gain access to the internet more easily without spending huge sum of money.

Some might argue that there is no incentive for the employers to fork out additional capitals to provide internet access for their foreign workers. To address this concern, MOM can give foreign-worker-levy rebates to the employers if they opt to do so. Furthermore, by providing basic welfares to the workers, the companies are also portraying a good image, which can win the hearts of stockholders and public.

Conclusion

In conclusion, financial capability is the main reason why foreign workers in Singapore remain “disconnected” from the internet. This results in information discrepancy between them and their employers. This digital divide allows their employers to abuse the workers’ rights, and also slows down the process of offering help to the workers when they are treated unfairly. In order to address the problems arose due to this digital divide, Singapore’s government can tackle the “divide” by enforcing and also providing incentives to the employers when they help their workers to get “connected”.

References

Au, A. (2014, September 15). Overhauling Singapore's migrant labour system - an alternative plan. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/09/15/overhauling-singapores-migrant-labour-system-an-alternative-plan/

Chia, Y. J., & Zaccheus, M. (2012, December 10). Hard life, but foreign workers labour on. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121209-388579.html

Foreign workforce numbers. (2014, September 25). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.mom.gov.sg/statistics-publications/others/statistics/Pages/ForeignWorkforceNumbers.aspx

Ng, E. j. (2009, January 16). Government's pledge to protect foreign workers' rights should go beyond mere empty talk. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=1917

One third of male. (2014, July 8). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/07/08/one-third-of-male-migrant-workers-dont-get-paid-what-theyre-due/

20 to 40 percent of. (2014, September 10). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://twc2.org.sg/2014/09/10/26-to-40-percent-of-male-workers-suffer-illegal-savings-money-deduction/


Edited 2 October 2014

Essay Outline (revised draft)

Question:
Discuss a “divide” that exists due to the lack of ICT or other digital technology in a particular country/academic discipline, and propose measures that could be implemented to address the problem.

Main topic area:
Digital divide between the blue collar foreign workers in Singapore and their employers

Main problem identified: WHERE? WHO IS IMPACTED? WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM?
Foreign workers generally do not have the financial capability to own ICT devices.
As such, it is difficult for them to reach out for help when there are cases of unfair treatment or abuse by their employer.
Also, by remaining "disconnected", it is more likely to put them at a disadvantage due to information failure.

Proposed solution (set): WHO HAS THE MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM? WHO IS IMPACTED?
Government(Ministry of Manpower) can enforce employers to provide for basic ICT equipment.

Proposed Thesis:
Occasionally, there are cases of foreign workers in Singapore being treated unfairly by their employers due to information failure. Singapore government (Ministry of Manpower) can address the problem of information failure by enforcing employers to provide necessary equipments for internet access.

Essay Outline

Go To Revised Essay Outline

Question:

Discuss a “divide” that exists due to the lack of ICT or other digital technology in a particular country/academic discipline, and propose measures that could be implemented to address the problem. 

Main topic area:

Digital divide among the foreign workers in Singapore due to lack of ICTs and the skills/knowledge required.

Main problem identified: WHERE? WHO IS IMPACTED? WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM?

Foreign workers usually come from poor countries, and they lack the financial capability to own ICT devices (smartphones, laptops etc.). 

In addition, they came from a place with limited or no ICT available. As such, they are usually unfamiliar with these new technologies, or in other words, they lack the skills required for accessing the internet. As a result, these workers usually remain “disconnected” despite having improved financial capability.

This in turn causes them to not be able to enjoy the convenience of having ICTs such as cheaper overseas call.

Proposed solution (set): WHO HAS THE MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM? WHO IS IMPACTED?

Employers can send the workers to attend basic ICT skills course.

Government(Ministry of Manpower) can enforce employers to provide for basic ICT equipment.

Proposed Thesis:

Singapore government(Ministry of Manpower) can help foreign workers to get “connected” and to enjoy the convenience of having internet access, by enforcing companies to provide basic ICT equipments and skills training.



Edited- 29 September 2014

Reader Response DRAFT3: Global digital divide persists but is narrowing(Euromonitor International)

According to an article from Euromonitor International, global digital divide remains as a recurring issue - despite the doubling of Internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2010. While there has been a higher increase in Internet access and usage growth rates in the developing regions, Internet penetration has been more even and significantly present in developed regions. This is due to greater IT investments from the state, better accessibility and availability of modern technology, and citizens’ higher spending power. Companies are coming up with new business tactics to suit the changing consumptions patterns, which are just one of the many consequences brought about by the availability of Internet connection in the various regions (“Global digital divide persists but is narrowing”, 2011).

I personally experienced the transition from having no broadband connection to being able to enjoy the convenience brought about by Internet access. According to a senior correspondent for NYTimes.com, the Internet has integrated so deeply into our life that "few recall what life was like without it" (Cowell, 2014). Euromonitor International’s article mentions that the availability of information on the Internet allows people to learn new skills and retrieve information easily in a short amount of time as compared to traditional means. I do not agree with the article’s assertion, as I believe that the advantages the Internet can bring about are still very limited due to other important factors such as technology competency and literacy rate.

As a user who has been exposed to digital technology since I was young, googling and skimming through the results to answer my queries is a piece of cake. On the other hand, if I were to ask my parents to search the Internet on how to bake a cake, most probably they would not be able to even if you give them the fastest broadband and computer. In my opinion, the article above focuses solely on the advantages IT technology can bring about to everyone from any part of the world, be it developed or rural regions. What it did not take into account is that digital technology may be new to the people in rural regions, and it requires the user to pick up a new set of skills before being able to fully benefit from it.

One can say that skill can be picked up over time, and the modern IT technology including most Internet pages are designed for least complication and easy usage. This is generally true, but it must also be noted that that opening a browser and typing the web address are not the only skills required to surf the net. Just like the newspaper and books, the Internet also consists of words. This brings us to the point that literacy is also a prerequisite to surf the Internet and extracting the information that the user wants. This is especially crucial in rural regions as education tends to be another issue in these places. In another article about bridging the digital divide in Africa, Treisman(2014) asserts that with more than 33% of the people in Liberia being unable to read or write, “this high-tech approach is insufficient to reach all citizens”. As such, having Internet access does not mean that one can learn new skills and retrieve information from it.

To sum up, the article does well in stating the social impact of Internet access and usage, and how it can improve the lives in rural regions. However, in my opinion, the article seems to ignore the other factors that might affect the process of improvement. In other words, the article merely mentions the advantages that the Internet can bring about, and ignores the underlying criteria.

Reference

Cowell, A (2014, Jan 23). Embracing the Power of the Internet. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/embracing-the-power-of-the-internet.html?_r=0

Euromonitor International (2011, Feb 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html

Treisman, L (2014, Jan 24). Access to information: bridging the digital divide in Africa. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/24/digital-divide-access-to-information-africa




Edited- 21 September 2014

Reader Response DRAFT2: Global digital divide persists but is narrowing(Euromonitor International)

According to an article from Euromonitor International, global digital divide remains as an recurring issue - despite the doubling of Internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2010. While there has been a higher increase in Internet access and usage growth rates in the developing regions, Internet penetration has been more even and significantly present in developed regions. This is due to greater IT investments from the state, better accessibility and availability of modern technology, and citizens’ higher spending power. Companies are coming up with new business tactics to suit the changing consumptions patterns, which are just one of the many consequences brought about by the availability of Internet connection in the various regions (“Global digital divide persists but is narrowing”, 2011).

I personally experienced the transition from having no broadband connection to being able to enjoy the convenience brought about by Internet access. According to a senior correspondent for NYTimes.com, the Internet has integrated so deeply into our life that "few recall what life was like without it" (Cowell, 2014). I agree with the article that the availability of information on the Internet allows people to learn new skills and retrieve information easily in a short amount of time as compared to traditional means. However, it fails to take into account of other important factors, such as skills and literacy level, which determine the amount of information one can access from the Internet.

As a user who has been exposed to digital technology since I was young, googling and skimming through the results to answer my queries is a piece of cake. On the other hand, if I were to ask my parents to search the Internet on how to bake a cake, most probably they would not be able to even if you give them the fastest broadband and computer. In my opinion, the article above focuses solely on the advantages IT technology can bring about to everyone from any part of the world, be it developed or rural regions. What it did not take into account is that digital technology may be new to a person, and it requires the user to pick up a new set of skills before being able to fully benefit from it.

One can say that skills can be picked up over time, and the modern IT technology including most Internet pages are designed for least complication and easy usage. Having said that, one must also understand that opening a browser and typing the web address are not the only skills required to surf the net. Just like newspaper and books, the Internet also consists of words. This brings us to the point that literacy is also a prerequisite to surf the Internet and extracting the information that the user wants. This is especially crucial in rural regions as education tends to be another issue in these places. In another article about bridging the digital divide in Africa, Treisman(2014) asserts that with more than 33% of the people in Liberia being unable to read or write, “this high-tech approach is insufficient to reach all citizens”. As such, having Internet access does not mean that one can learn new skills and retrieve information from it.

To sum up, the article does well in stating the social impact of Internet access and usage, and how it can improve the lives in rural regions. However, in my opinion, the article seems to ignore the other factors that might affect the process of improvement. In other words, the article merely mention the advantages that the Internet can bring about, and ignore the underlying criterial.



Reference

Cowell, A (2014, Jan 23). Embracing the Power of the Internet. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/embracing-the-power-of-the-internet.html?_r=0

Euromonitor International (2011, Feb 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html

Treisman, L (2014, Jan 24). Access to information: bridging the digital divide in Africa. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/24/digital-divide-access-to-information-africa




-Edited 12 September 2014

Week 4 Assignment- Reflective Post: An event that has shaped my life and the person I have become.

2014 FIFA World Cup has imprinted many memories in the lives of many. Honestly speaking, I am not a huge fan of soccer. Nonetheless, I followed the news of this recent world cup as most of the people around me tend to talk about it. Usually people would talk about the teams that they support, the teams that they bet on, and especially those entertaining news like “The Biting Suarez”. However, the deepest impression that I had of this world cup did not come from the games, but the actions of the Japanese after the game.

After the game between Japanese and Greece, the Japanese fans stayed to clean up the rubbish they left in the stadium. This simple act touched my heart, and also left me to reflect about the culture in Singapore. Once in a while, litterbugs in Singapore are being punished by serving corrective work order. It struck me that in order to improve the social behaviour in the society, the government enforces the law to the extent of embarrassing them.

Singapore is known to be a clean and green city, with little or no rubbish to be seen along the road. I hope that this reputation would stays true in the future, and as a Singaporean myself, I will certainly do my part in keeping this country clean and litter-free.

Reader Response DRAFT1: Global digital divide persists but is narrowing(Euromonitor International)

According to an article from Euromonitor International, global digital divide remains as an recurring issue - despite the doubling of Internet users worldwide from 2005 to 2010 . While there has been a higher increase in Internet access and usage growth rates in the developing regions, Internet penetration has been more even and significantly present in developed regions. This is due to greater IT investments from the state, better accessibility and availability of modern technology, and citizens’ higher spending power. Companies are coming up with new business tactics to suit the changing consumptions patterns, which are just one of the many consequences brought about by the availability of Internet connection in the various regions (“Global digital divide persists but is narrowing”, 2011).

I had personally experienced the transition from having no broadband connection to being able to enjoy the convenience brought about by Internet access. According to a senior correspondent for NYTimes.com, the Internet has integrated so deeply into our life that "few recall what life was like without it" (Cowell, 2014). I agree with the article that the availability of information on the Internet allows people to learn new skills and retrieve information easily in a short amount of time as compared to the traditional means. However, it fails to take into account of other important factors that determine the amount of information that one can access from the Internet.

As a user who has been exposed to digital technology since I was young, googling and skimming through the results to answer my queries is a piece of cake. On the other hand, if I were to ask my parents to search the Internet on how to bake a cake, most probably they would not be able to even if you give them the fastest broadband and computer. In my opinion, the article above focuses solely on the advantages IT technology can bring about to everyone from any part of the world, be it developed or rural regions. What it did not take into account is that digital technology may be new to the people in rural regions, and it requires the user to pick up a new set of skills before being able to fully benefits from it.

One can say that skill can be picked up over time, and the modern IT technology including most Internet pages are designed for least complication and easy usage. Having said that, one must also understand that opening a browser and typing the web address are not the only skills required to surf the net. Just like newspaper and books, the Internet also consists of words. This brings us to the point that literacy is also a prerequisite to surfing the Internet and extracting the information that the user wants. This is especially crucial in rural regions as education tends to be another issue in these places. In another article about bridging the digital divide in Africa, Treisman(2014) asserts that with more than 33% of the people in Liberia being unable to read or write, “this high-tech approach is insufficient to reach all citizens”. As such, having Internet access does not mean that once can learn new skills and retrieve information from it.

To sum up, the article does well in stating the the social impact of Internet access and usage, and how it can improves the lives of many in rural regions. However, in my opinion, the article seems to ignore the other factors that might affect the process of improvement. In other words, the article seems to only mention the advantages that the Internet can bring about, and ignore the underlying criterial.


Reference

Cowell, A (2014, Jan 23). Embracing the Power of the Internet. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/europe/embracing-the-power-of-the-internet.html?_r=0

Euromonitor International (2011, Feb 11). Global digital divide persists but is narrowing.Retrieved September 6, 2014, from

http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html

Treisman, L (2014, Jan 24). Access to information: bridging the digital divide in Africa. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/24/digital-divide-access-to-information-africa

D1 Summary: Facebook fans do worse in exams

Studies by Ohio State University show that students’ academic performances are affected when they allocate lesser time to their studies as a result of using Facebook (Leake and Warren, 2009).

References:
Leake, J., & Warren, G. (2009, April 12). Facebook fans do worse in exams. The Sunday Times. Retrieved from http://www.timesonline.co.uk

Descriptive Reflection: My English Learning Journey

The learning journey of my English language has never been a smooth one since primary school. I still remember the first exam that I failed(English obviously…) had caused me to be in an anxious state of mind for the next few days as I was afraid to tell my mother. Since then, I knew that English language would be one of my biggest hurdles in my student life.

I have been trying to improve my grammar in my daily tasks like communicating with friends, be it face-to-face talking or texting. Due to the fact that I am from a Chinese speaking family, being with friends is the only time where I get to mainly converse in English. Despite my efforts in taking note of the grammar I use while speaking, I usually ended up getting mocked by my friends for using the wrong word or pronunciation. As such, I have a tendency to or end up speaking in Mandarin or Singlish(perhaps a subconscious attempt to hide my bad grammer?).

When I was told to sit for QET, I knew I would not pass with my lousy writing skills as well as the fact that I have not been writing for the past two years in my NS life. As expected, ES1102 will now be part of my English language learning journey, and I do have mixed feeling for having to take up this additional module. I was initially concerned by the extra workload from this module. However, that changes a bit after reading the reviews by other students and also getting to know that my teacher will be an interesting and funny one. What is done cannot be undone anyway, and all I can do now is try to make use of this class and improve my English as much as possible.


-Edited (August 27, 2014)