SMPK Setapak Uses Frog for the Visually Impaired: Part 1 of 2

Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Setapak is a school for the visually impaired. Among the 140 students that are currently enrolled in the school, the range of visual impairment ranges from partial to full blindness. SMPK Setapak's school staff consists of teachers who are both fully sighted as well as those who have varying degrees of visual impairment.

In 2012, two teachers who had attended a Frog Admin training held by the Ministry of Education (Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan), took the initiative to implement Frog in their school even without having any further guidance as they are not listed as a Frog Champion School.

When we heard the news, we headed over for a visit to find out how a school like theirs used Frog and what motivated them to do so. Watch this video to find out more about this school as told by the School Principal, Encik Jalaluddin Yusof.

We are very encouraged just by how much effort these teachers put into giving the best education to their students who have special needs,  on a daily basis. Stay tuned to find out how they use the Frog VLE for teaching and learning purposes in the follow-up story next week!

27 March 2013 - Sin Chew: Wee Ka Siong: The Ministry of Health and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency has confirmed that schools with telecommunications towers are free from harm

English translation

Wee Ka Siong: The Ministry of Health and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency has confirmed that schools with telecommunication towers are free from harm

YB. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong , the Deputy Minister of Education confirmed that the telecommunication towers built in schools for the 1BestariNet project do not pose any danger to our students. The building of these towers was only carried out after Ministry of Education received confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Malaysian Nuclear Agency pertaining to its safety.

He further reiterated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had given their assurance that these telecommunication towers would not inflict any harm or pose any danger to the students. Guidelines have been issued to the contractors chosen to build these telecommunication towers.

Read more here.

A Froggy Chorus at SMK Assunta

Last week, SMK Assunta's Choral Speaking Club entertained members of the school's PIBG (Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru) with a poem about what a students' education experience can be like with the Frog VLE. Watch this video to hear how they describe what one can do with the Frog VLE in all sorts of interesting scenarios!

24 March 2013 - The Star: Shaping schools of the future

Kiosks of interest: Many visitors were drawn by the various products and educational tools on display.

THE STAR: Educators and students of all ages were recently treated to a showcase of the latest approaches, products and innovations for improving and enhancing learning in schools and other educational institutions.

IF YOU think designing schools of the future is merely done by plugging in smart gadgets and swiping back and forth on a touchscreen, think again.

There is more to it than that.

Microsoft worldwide vice-president of Education Anthony Salcito said the concept of school of the future was often misconstrued.

“When people think of schools of the future, people think of science fiction. It’s not a technology showcase,” he said.

School authorities must be able to tap their students’ potential, nurture them and inculcate values that would enable them to move on and face the challenges ahead.

Read the rest of this story here.

Women's History Month: Madam Tong Oi Kuan

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, we’re featuring women who have made a significant difference in the world of education.

Madam Tong Oi Kuan has been in the education field for almost 37 years. Starting off her career as a clerk, Madam Tong stepped in as a temporary teacher in 1974 and soon found her passion for people and education. Throughout her years of service, Madam Tong had helped her school raise a 6 million Ringgit building fund through five major fundraising events. Together with the strong assistance and great support of the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of school, PIBG members, Alumni, teachers, parents, pupils and community, the entire school was rebuilt over the span of 14 years.

SJK(C) Mun Choong, Kuala Lumpur now has 60 classrooms, two basketball courts, five badminton courts in a multi-purpose open hall, a ping pong room and ICT facilities built in every classroom. Humbled by the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, Madam Tong expressed, “I could never have done all this without the cooperation, assistance and support of this enthusiastic, kind, generous, and diligent team of people. I thank them sincerely from the bottom of my heart for accomplishing this meaningful task together with me.”

Watch this video and be inspired by her story of how she transformed an entire school and what she’s up to now.

 

EduNation Providing Free Education Resources through the FrogStore

The two masterminds behind EduNation, Edmond and Sugain, visited us at our FrogAsia office recently. Watch this video to find out what they had to say about EduNation, its history and their motivations behind providing free education material to students and teachers nationwide.

 

FrogAsia: Tell us a little bit about EduNation. 
EduNation: We are basically putting the entire Malaysian syllabus online and that includes videos, exercises, free tuition and a free social platform powered by the Malaysian community.

What motivated you to start EduNation?
Back when I was tutoring in orphanages, there was a boy named John who was going to sit for PMR and he was having trouble with fractions. You know… 0.7, 0.8, he just doesn’t get it. I asked him form 3 level questions, and he couldn’t answer them. When I asked form 1 questions, he couldn’t answer them either. So I was wondering, “What does John actually know?” So I asked him, “John, what is half plus half?” He looked at me and said, “¼”.

We see so many of these things happening in schools. The reason behind it is that people are too poor to afford tuition, too poor to afford help, and teachers can’t possibly help everyone in a huge class of 40 students. We’re doing this because we can help teachers and students. And we’re giving it for free because a lot of kids can’t afford the education that they need.

Watch the video for the full interview! 

Team Thoughts: FrogAsia Conquers Mountains

What is FrogAsia all about? And why should you care? While we could point you to our website, we’d rather tell you in our own words so you can get to know us just a little more. 

We asked FrogAsia's Product Development and Software Release Manager, Askhar Ali,  about his thoughts on the progress of company so far.  Here's what he has to say:  

Askhar, Alumni of Nab Wood Grammar School, UK.

“When we first started FrogAsia we had a mammoth of a task to do and a mountain to climb.

Since then, people have jumped on board and every single department has just simply adapted and learnt to climb this mountain of tasks required to ensure that we give the very best to the children of tomorrow - not just with the Frog VLE but with everything from support to training, and even to our very own Frog song!”