Virtual
learning: Dr Wee showing a screen shot of the application, flanked by
Yeoh (second from left) and SRJK (C) Choong Wen headmaster Wong Shee
Fatt. Lim is on the left .
PUPILS at SJK(C) Choong Wen now have access to the nation’s first Chrome Lab, which is housed in their school in Kuala Lumpur.
Launched
last week at the school’s premises by Deputy Education Minister Datuk
Dr Wee Ka Siong, the Chrome Lab is designed to have an “open concept” to
promote collaboration between students.
It is also fully-equipped with Yes 4G Chromebook units and mobile Internet.
The
lab, which was designed and fitted by EduSpec Holdings, has an open
layout and the pupils sit on hexagonal tables. The company’s chief
executive officer Lim Een Hong says this will allow the pupils to have
face-to-face discussions while they work.
“It is truly an environment built for inspiration, creativity and collaboration with pupils nationwide,” he said in his speech.
YTL
Group executive chairman Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay said that due to the
availability of resources on the Internet, there were huge opportunities
for learning.
“We need to make sure that our students are not
left out but instead they will be able to tap into these resources to
make learning better and more engaging,” he said.
While Chinese
vernacular schools in Malaysia already have computer classes, with these
Chromebooks, teachers will be able to take the pupils out from the
classroom as the devices are wireless and therefore, extremely portable.
Pupils will also be able to make use of FrogAsia’s cloud-based Frog Virtual Learning Environment and Google Apps for Education.
YTL
Power executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong said that “having a
cloud-based technology negates the need for bulky servers in the lab
itself”.
All the information will be stored at main servers
elsewhere. This also means that the Chromebook operating systems will be
able to undergo constant updates, ensuring that users have the latest
versions of the software.
“Also, there will be no more viruses,” said Seok Hong.
Dr Wee said that this was in line with the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013 - 2025.
“Introducing
our nation’s pupils to the exciting field of ICT is an obvious step in
modernising the Malaysian education system,” he said.
He added that he hoped to see more schools follow in the footstps of SJK(C) Choong Wen.
Dr Wee reiterated that this was not part of the 1BestariNet project that was included in the blueprint.
However, he said that the syllabus would still be based on the Standard Curriculum for Primary Schools (KSSR).