PLDT Enterprise, via
their Digital Mobility team, leads innovation in eLearning or digital
technology-backed education as it recently launched SMART's new
eLearning Program for the academe and training institutions. This
consists of a suite of products that leverage the benefits of
internet-based technologies in schools.
This
erases the perception that many people have of technology such as
gadgets as mere distractions to students' studies. The products in this
suite are specifically developed to benefit not only students and
teachers, but also administrators, parents, among many others.
"Our
view is that the devices will serve more as effective study aids, and
act less as distractions," said Gio Abaquin, Head of Digital Mobility,
Disruptive Business Group (DBG), the emerging technologies business unit
of PLDT Enterprise.
"Today’s
millennials have learned to accept the role that devices play in their
daily lives. It is important to bring in this new technology into the
classroom, for both the obvious, physical reasons, such as lighter
physical loads versus heavy books and notebooks, as well as for
technological benefits," Abaquin explained.
"Mobile
learning supports the learning process rather than being integral to
it. Mobile learning can also be a useful add-on tool for students with
special needs. It can be used as a ‘hook’ to re-engage disaffected
youth," Chet Alviz, Head of SMACS (Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud and
Security) added.
For the eLearning App, there will be package options such as app-only, app with SIM, as well as tablet bundles.
More
than a Learning Management System (LMS), the SMART eLearning program
creates an end-to-end Digital Campus Experience. SMART is set to roll
out the eLearning program with select schools.
The
whole suite offers PLDT iGate, SMART WiFi, SMART M2M SIMs, SMART
Prepaid SIMs, customized website with eCommerce capability to help
establish online presence, Vehicle and Personnel trackers for the school
transport as well as for student use, customized App, including evolved
learning solutions such as SMART's eLearning LMS and Microsoft Office
365. All these can be accessed by authorized teachers, admin, and
students in and out of the campus.
“We
are very pleased to have included in our service portfolio an
educational digital tool that not only benefits students, but also the
entire school ecosystem. Parents, for example, will be able to gain
access to their child’s developmental progress.
Educators,
on the other hand, will be able to freely interact with both students
and parents on the more important aspects of today’s learning
experience,” added Nico Alcoseba, Head of PLDT’s Disruptive Business
Group.
PLDT
Enterprise stressed digital technology-backed education is ever more
rising and it believes the Philippines has a high potential for growth
in eLearning adoption. Ambient Insight, an international market research
firm that specializes in eLearning and Mobile Learning, said in a
statement that in Asia alone, the market for learning and training
programs supported by electronic technology is expected to reach $11.5
billion by 2016, or more than twice the $5.2 billion in 2011.
The
two countries with the highest growth rates in the world are Vietnam
and Malaysia, respectively at 44.3 percent and 39.4 percent. Also in the
top 10 are Romania and China. The Asian region is also known for a high
adoption in mobile technology, due to proliferation of low priced
mobile devices.
Currently,
the Philippines ranks at seventh place in terms of growth rate in
e-learning. The country joins Thailand, India,Kenya, Slovakia, and
Azerbaijan with growth rates of between 30 percent and 35 percent.
This
shows that the Philippines is well on the way towards adapting
eLearning for educational institutions – and even in businesses. SMART's
goal is to be at the forefront of that digital change, at home, at
work, and even in school.
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