Revolutionising The Face Of Education

education feature

physics mathema languages Revolutionising the Face of Education

Education has always been a key enabler of any society. Today, amidst a changing global landscape, it is more important than ever. What has changed, however, is its delivery. New technologies have transformed the way people teach and learn. The traditional pen and paper method of learning now has a strong partner in Information Communications Technology (ICT) systems and solutions that offer high-tech, high-speed learning. Moving away from a one-size-fits-all, learning has become a journey to be experienced and engaged, adapted to the individual style of the learner. What does this mean for ST Electronics?

As a recognised leader in infor-

programme, ST Electronics will

the Singapore Science Centre.

mation technologies, modelling

develop interactive e-learning

CAVE leverages VR technologies

and simulation, and having won

solutions for Beacon Primary School

to introduce school science topics

international acclaim for its interac-

and Hwa Chong Institution. The

that are difficult to grasp using

tive digital media contents and

end result will be an interactive and

conventional means of teaching,

solutions, ST Electronics is uniquely

collaborative learning environment

such as the shape and interaction of

suited to provide groundbreaking

with a variety of virtual learn-

molecules, and the solar system. By

solutions educating future genera-

ing tools which link up learning

enhancing interactivity and visual

tions.

communities for truly borderless

depictions, students are better able

communications. (see page 25 for full

to increase their understanding of

story)

scientific concepts.

Development Authority of

Delivering next generation educa-

Singapore (iDA) and the Ministry

tion solutions is hardly a new arena

Enhancing Processes and Systems

of Education’s (MOE) landmark

for ST Electronics. From as early

Since 2000, ST Electronics has been

FutureSchools@Singapore project

as 1999, when Virtual Reality (VR)

equipping schools with innovative

to ST Electronics (Training &

technology was still in its infancy,

applications to enhance learning.

Simulation Systems) underscores

it collaborated with the Institute

One of its signature solutions is the

the confidence in ST Electronics’

of High Performance Computing

i-School system which paves the

education capabilities. Under the

to deliver a CAVE VR System for

biology

Making Headway in Education

The recent award of the Infocomm

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education feature

...continued from page 21

way for intelligent schools of the

tem was implemented in Balestier

which adds to the overall learning

future. Under the system, a Student

Hill Secondary School, Institute

experience.

Target Setting Module allows

of Technical Education (ITE) East

students to set their own learn-

Campus, Singapore Management

In September 2007, STEE-InfoComm

ing targets online. This enables

University, Management

was awarded a S$3.9m contract to

teachers to monitor their progress

Development Institute of Singapore

upgrade the network infrastructure

and shape their curriculum to suit

and Taylor’s College in Malaysia.

for 60 schools under the MOE. This

their students’ learning abilities.

(see page 27 for details)

provides a reliable, secured and scalable high performance network

Apart from augmenting learning,

infrastructure that enables the

efficiency significantly by automat-

Tapping on Wireless Technologies

ing traditionally time-consuming

One of the most impactful tech-

ICT for more engaged learning for

processes and systems such as

nological advancements in this cen-

the students. The network infra-

student attendance taking, facilities

tury is undoubtedly the introduc-

structure will provide the platform

booking and access, and delivery

tion of wireless technology, which

for various applications to harness

of information on results, school

has rendered space and distance

benefits for students as well as

excursions and parents-meet-teach-

inconsequential for learning. In

teachers. Backed by the robust in-

ers sessions.

2004, ST Electronics participated

frastructure, these applications will

in a pilot programme under IDA’s

enhance connectivity, interaction

The highlight of the i-School system

BackPack.NET initiative. As

and collaboration for students with

is a contactless EZ-link smart card

the main system integrator,

other schools, their community and

used to access shared equipment,

ST Electronics (Info-Comm

beyond.

book and make payment for facili-

Systems) [STEE-InfoComm]

ties and equipment, and register for

launched a wireless network at

In America, ST Electronics’ iDirect

services. Students can even order

Crescent Girls’ School, allowing

satellite network was implemented

and buy food via kiosks from the

lessons to be truly mobile. Armed

at the Old Dominion University

i-School also boosts administrative

schools to fully leverage the use of

with a tablet PC

(ODU), a pioneer in distance

containing digitised

learning. Through an ambitious

textbooks, each student

three-phase rollout, ODU has been

can communicate with

able to reduce its operating costs,

her teacher, and access

increase and improve its video

lessons and resources

distribution to classrooms around

anywhere on campus.

the continent, and make available a

(See page 24 for details)

wealth of digitally archived lectures to its entire student body. (See page

Likewise for Temasek

29 for details)

Polytechnic, a campuswide wireless network

Changing the Way People Learn

infrastructure installed

E-learning, in particular, is an

canteen or the Internet in advance,

by ST Electronics eliminated the

invaluable educational tool, freeing

eliminating cash processes. The

need to hunt for fixed network

the process of learning from the

smart cards can be easily cancelled,

points. Wireless connectivity

confines of space and time.

ensuring security should the cards

enables the polytechnic’s staff and

ST Electronics’ in-house developed

be lost or stolen. The system also

students to easily share online

e-learning solution, Multimedia

enables easy tracking and authen-

resources, collect and distribute

Education Resource Interactive

tication by administrators via a

information, and access lecture

Teacher System (MERiTS), has

central module. The i-School sys-

notes, email and the Internet - all of

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electronics review

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education feature

...continued from page 22

enjoyed immeasurable success. By

and an extremely user-friendly

ST Electronics developed course-

integrating the requirements of

interface for easy navigation.

ware and contents tailored to the re-

self-paced learning and teacher-

quirements of the Kazakh, Russian

led sessions into a single system,

ST Electronics’ expertise in edu-

and English languages. It has

MERiTS optimises interaction and

cational solutions extends beyond

installed multimedia hardware and

enables teachers to conduct lessons

Singapore. Since 2005, more than

laboratory furniture, management

more effectively. Robust, scalable

1,100 schools in Kazakhstan have

software, learning tools and three

and cost effective, this new age

benefitted from MERiTS. Working

language courseware for these

interactive classroom and learning

closely with its pedagogy consul-

schools and has also conducted

management system features the

tants, the Ministry of Education in

courses to prepare more than 1,500

latest in multimedia applications

Kazakhstan and local teachers,

teachers to use the system. The effort in Kazakhstan culminated with the formation of a jointventure company between its subsidiary ST Electronics (Training & Simulation Systems) Pte Ltd [STEE-T&S] and a Kazakh partner to focus on education projects in the Central Asian region (see story in box on the left). In China, STEE-T&S’ China-based subsidiary provides consultancy, training and e-learning services to corporations, academic institutions and individuals.

(Left to Right): Mr Vladimir Yessikov (President, Glotur), Mr Khanat Nurekenov, Chairman, Glotur), Mr Eric Chan (General Manager, STEE-T&S), Mr Gary Chan (Dy Vice President - E-learning Business, STEE-T&S)

ST Electronics’ Joint Venture in Kazakhstan

In view of the potential growth in the area of e-learning, ST Electronics (Training & Simulation) Pte Ltd has set up a subsidiary - MERiTS Technologies LLP (MERiTS Technologies) in a joint venture with Glotur Technology Fund (GTF) in Kazakhstan. GTF is a venture fund created by Kazakhstan’s National Innovation Fund which provides start-up capital to new companies that demonstrate potential in creating new technologies or the opening of new markets for Kazakhstan. MERiTS Technologies will focus on education projects in Kazakhstan, including the supply, installation and integration of equipment, operating software and learning courseware for public schools and private institutions in the country. The more than 8,000 education facilities in Kazakhstan present MERiTS Technologies with opportunities to customise education solutions for this market and to sell these products to countries in the Central Asian region. MERiTS Technologies will also assist STEE-T&S in seeking viable business opportunities in the region.

With ST Electronics’ in-house developed e-training contents and platform, the company offers a vast array of e-training products and services via the Internet, covering over 200 types of web-based professional courses. The future of education is here today. ST Electronics’ extensive domain knowledge in training, simulation and digital media has laid the foundation for the delivery of sophisticated yet pragmatic educational solutions to a new generation of learners. Its expertise, coupled with its state-of-the-art applications and pioneering spirit, will enable ST Electronics to play a leading role in revolutionising the face of education.

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