The Future of Learning Conference - An exclusive interview with Alvin Ung

FrogAsia recently sat down with author of Barefoot Leadership, Alvin Ung, for an exclusive interview. To find out what the Future of Learning means to him, watch the clip below!

Alvin Ung is a writer, facilitator and coach who embraces his calling to grow leaders with depth and purpose in their lives. Over the past ten years, he has conducted workshops and taught graduate courses for leaders in the corporate and social sectors in Asia and North America.

Be among the first 100 to sign up for Leaps of Knowledge: The Future of Learning Conference and win a free copy of Alvin Ung's Barefoot Leadership Book!

Register before midnight on 24 Nov 2013 to enjoy a 50% Early Bird Discount!

For more information or to register, visit www.leapsofknowledge.com.

Leaps of Knowledge is a series of events comprising talks, seminars, workshops, conferences and other events that aim to enlighten, inspire and inform Malaysians on how education can be transformed using education technology and the Internet. By keeping Malaysians informed through having the world’s leading educationalists, technologists, thinkers and personalities speaking in the country, we aim to open up the debate on how education should be delivered and inspire teachers and students in the country to make the most of the information age.

The Future of Learning Conference - Up Close and Personal with Sugata Mitra

FrogAsia brings you the latest instalment in the Leaps of Knowledge series with The Future of Learning Conference, happening on the 5th of December at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and featuring some of the most innovative minds and thought leaders in the world today. 

Read our exclusive interview with conference keynote speaker, Professor Sugata Mitra, to find out what the future of learning means to him and what technology means for education!

1. Why are you excited to be at this conference?

SM: This conference brings together people from all over the world. Kuala Lumpur is a special memory for me. It is here that I first presented the results of the original 'hole in the wall' experiments, in the year 2000. 

2. What does the future of learning mean to you?

SM: Because of the Internet, learners can take charge of their own learning. This will profoundly change schooling as we know it. 

3. How do you think technology can effectively prepare students for the future?

SM: Technology does not do anything. It is people who have to use technology. In the hands of learners, information technology can profoundly change the way learning happens. 

Mitra is a professor of educational technology at Newcastle University and Chief Scientist Emeritus of the National Institute of Information Technology, Mitra, is known for his 1999 “Hole-in-the-Wall” experiment which proved children could learn to use computers without formal training. 

If you want to know more about Sugata Mitra's work and his inspirational vision for the future, or hear other great speakers, register today for the Leaps of Knowledge Conference!

Seats are limited, so don't miss out! Register for as low as RM50 before 16th November 2013 while the 50% Early Bird discount applies! Conference fees include lunch and tea breaks at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

For more information and to register, visit www.leapsofknowledge.com!

Leaps of Knowledge is a series of events comprising talks, seminars, workshops, conferences and other events that aim to enlighten, inspire and inform Malaysians on how education can be transformed using education technology and the Internet. By keeping Malaysians informed through having the world’s leading educationalists, technologists, thinkers and personalities speaking in the country, we aim to open up the debate on how education should be delivered and inspire teachers and students in the country to make the most of the information age.

Leaps of Knowledge: The Future of Learning Conference

In August, we brought Nick Vujicic to Kuala Lumpur under the first ever Leaps of Knowledge event. The series continues with a full-day conference themed "The Future of Learning", happening on the 5th of December at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

This is your chance to listen to and be inspired by internationally-renowned thought leaders in education such as Professor Sugata Mitra, professor of educational technology at Newcastle University and Chief Scientist of the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT).

Professor Sugata Mitra’s 1999 “Hole in the Wall” experiment proved that children could learn how to use computers without formal training. That experiment has since been repeated at many places and acclaimed in literacy and education studies around the globe, inspiring other educators as well as the Oscar-winning movie “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Other speakers include author, facilitator and leadership coach Alvin Ung and Intel APAC and Japan Vice President Gregory Bryant.

From Sugata Mitra's findings on how children can self-organise and achieve their learning objectives with minimal supervision, to Alvin Ung's inspiring experiences in a Malaysian school in the jungles of Pahang that became this year’s most improved school in the country, and finally to Gregory Bryant's insights into the learning possibilities now available with the advent of technology, the keynote talks are aimed to inspire and spark new perspectives for teaching and learning.

Conference speakers will also join three prominent personalities in education and government in a panel dialogue, during which participants will be able to pose their questions to the panel for discussion.

Guests on the panel are:

• Lord Stewart Sutherland, who previously held the positions of Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Principal of King’s College London and Chief Inspector of Schools in the UK
• Dato Seri Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and CEO of PEMANDU
• Dr. Ganakumaran Subramaniam, Head of Faculty of Arts and Education at University of Nottingham (Malaysia Campus), and President of the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA)

The full-day conference will include workshops aimed to equip and empower educators and parents to prepare the students of today for a digitally-driven future, and exhibition booths which will enable participants to experience the future of learning for themselves.

Seats are limited, so don't miss out! Register for as low as RM50 before 16th November 2013 while the 50% Early Bird discount applies! Conference fees include lunch and tea breaks at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

For more information and to register, visit www.leapsofknowledge.com!

Leaps of Knowledge is a series of events comprising talks, seminars, workshops, conferences and other events that aim to enlighten, inspire and inform Malaysians on how education can be transformed using education technology and the Internet. By keeping Malaysians informed through having the world’s leading educationalists, technologists, thinkers and personalities speaking in the country, we aim to open up the debate on how education should be delivered and inspire teachers and students in the country to make the most of the information age.

Pengajaran maya Frog VLE di SK Putra Perdana Presint 8(1)

Frog and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Putrajaya Presint 8 (1) were recently featured in the Kosmo! Online's article "Pengajaran maya Frog VLE". 

The following is an excerpt of the article:

"... Mohd. Haniff Hafiszal tidak menggunakan kaedah pengajaran konvensional di bilik darjah, sebaliknya selesa mengajar dengan bantuan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (ICT) menerusi sistem pembelajaran maya, Frog VLE.

“Melalui sistem ini, kaedah pengajaran bukan sahaja menjadi mudah dan pantas malah lebih interaktif.

“Semua bahan pengajaran juga boleh diakses melalui satu pangkalan data membolehkan guru dan pelajar berkongsi maklumat yang sama,” ujarnya yang sudah tujuh tahun bergelar pendidik.

SK Putrajaya Persint 8(1) merupakan salah satu daripada 10,000 buah sekolah rendah dan menengah di negara ini yang mengguna pakai aplikasi Frog VLE.

Diperkenalkan oleh Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) dengan kerjasama YTL Communications menerusi projek 1BestariNet sejak awal tahun lalu, sistem yang dibangunkan di United Kindom itu membolehkan proses pengajaran, pembelajaran, pengurusan dan pentadbiran di sekolah menjadi mudah dan lancar.

Menerusinya juga, semua sekolah bakal dilengkapi akses internet berkelajuan tinggi 4G, platform pembelajaran bertaraf dunia dan akses kepada sumber dan teknologi sejajar dengan Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia (PPPM) 2013 hingga 2025..."

Read the full article at Kosmo! Online | Baca artikel penuh di Kosmo! Online

'Learning in the Cloud' Project Launches at SJK(C) Sentul

Imagine if every student and teacher had access to knowledge anytime, anywhere - especially beyond the classroom. Today, imagination has become reality and the classroom can now be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. In acknowledgment of this new avenue, SJK(C) Sentul in partnership with YTL Communications, FrogAsia and CSS Management, launched the ‘Learning in The Cloud’ project at the HGH Convention Centre today.

Opening Performance by 24 Solar Drums

The guests of honour present were Deputy Education Minister, YB Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Executive Director of YTL Communications, Dato’ Yeoh Soo Keng, Chairman of the Board of Governors of SJK(C) Sentul, Mr. Eddie Heng Hong Chai and Chief Executive Officer of CSS Management, Mr. Thomas Chee Kong Yong. 

After a thrilling opening performance by the 24 Solar Drums, YTL Communications Executive Director, YB Dato’ Yeoh Soo Keng took to the stage to highlight the many possibilities available through learning online, one being the ability to virtually connect a population of up to 10 million people consisting of teachers, parents as well as students, simultaneously.

“Learning will no longer be limited to the four walls of the classroom. Students can access their homework anywhere and anytime - even if there is no school due to haze” said YB Dato’ Yeoh Soo Keng. 

In his speech, the Chairman of Board of Governors of SJK(C) Sentul, Mr. Eddie Heng Hong Chai, addressed the ‘A’ syndrome and how the Frog VLE will help children develop their creativity in a fun and easy way as education with technology proves to be more meaningful to students. 

“The VLE is an effective means to stop the ‘A’ syndrome that is crippling many Malaysian students as they put more emphasis on scoring high academic grades at the expense of developing their soft skills.” said Mr. Chai.

Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Mary Yap addressing the importance of teachers’ and parents’ involvement in supporting children to unleash their full potential

Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Mary Yap also expressed her excitement about the project being able to give every student the ability to use the Frog VLE to learn all their core subject lessons through Chinese Smart School courseware developed by CSS Holdings. 

“This is possible as each student now has access to a Samsung 4G Chromebook,” said Datuk Mary Yap.

Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Mary Yap officiates the launch of the Learning in the Cloud project.

The event ended with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a live display of how ‘Learning in the Cloud’ is like at mobile lab. Students from class 4M showcased the benefits of cloud-based learning at five booths in this lab which included teaching with technology, increased student engagement, collaboration in the classroom, enhanced personal learning as well parent involvement.

Students from class 4M showcasing the VLE in the mobile lab

The use of Frog on the Samsung 4G Chromebook is a means to bring education in Malaysia to greater heights and the official launching of the ‘Learning in the Cloud’ project is a milestone that reflects that the future of education is now.

Watch the video below to see interviews with the Chairman of the School's Board of Directors Mr Eddie Heng, the Head Teacher of SJK(C) Sentul Ms Cecilia Kow, and others who are also involved in the project.