education feature

physics
Revolutionising the
Face of Education

mathema
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.

languages
What does this mean for ST Electronics?

As a recognised leader in infor-
mation technologies, modelling
and simulation, and having won
international acclaim for its interac-
tive digital media contents and
solutions, ST Electronics is uniquely
suited to provide groundbreaking
solutions educating future genera-
programme, ST Electronics will
develop interactive e-learning
solutions for Beacon Primary School
and Hwa Chong Institution. The
end result will be an interactive and
collaborative learning environment
with a variety of virtual learn-
ing tools which link up learning
the Singapore Science Centre.
CAVE leverages VR technologies
to introduce school science topics
that are difficult to grasp using
conventional means of teaching,
such as the shape and interaction of
molecules, and the solar system. By
enhancing interactivity and visual

biology
tions.
Making Headway in Education
The recent award of the Infocomm
Development Authority of
Singapore (iDA) and the Ministry
of Education’s (MOE) landmark
FutureSchools@Singapore project
to ST Electronics (Training &
Simulation Systems) underscores
the confidence in ST Electronics’
education capabilities. Under the
communities for truly borderless
communications. (see page 25 for full
story)
Delivering next generation educa-
tion solutions is hardly a new arena
for ST Electronics. From as early
as 1999, when Virtual Reality (VR)
technology was still in its infancy,
it collaborated with the Institute
of High Performance Computing
to deliver a CAVE VR System for
depictions, students are better able
to increase their understanding of
scientific concepts.
Enhancing Processes and
Systems
Since 2000, ST Electronics has been
equipping schools with innovative
applications to enhance learning.
One of its signature solutions is the
i-School system which paves the
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education feature
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way for intelligent schools of the
future. Under the system, a Student
Target Setting Module allows
students to set their own learn-
ing targets online. This enables
teachers to monitor their progress
and shape their curriculum to suit
their students’ learning abilities.
Apart from augmenting learning,
i-School also boosts administrative
efficiency significantly by automat-
ing traditionally time-consuming
processes and systems such as
student attendance taking, facilities
booking and access, and delivery
of information on results, school
excursions and parents-meet-teach-
ers sessions.
The highlight of the i-School system
is a contactless EZ-link smart card
used to access shared equipment,
book and make payment for facili-
ties and equipment, and register for
services. Students can even order
and buy food via kiosks from the
canteen or the Internet in advance,
eliminating cash processes. The
smart cards can be easily cancelled,
ensuring security should the cards
be lost or stolen. The system also
enables easy tracking and authen-
tication by administrators via a
central module. The i-School sys-
22 electronics review
tem was implemented in Balestier
Hill Secondary School, Institute
of Technical Education (ITE) East
Campus, Singapore Management
University, Management
Development Institute of Singapore
and Taylor’s College in Malaysia.
(see page 27 for details)
Tapping on Wireless
Technologies
One of the most impactful tech-
nological advancements in this cen-
tury is undoubtedly the introduc-
tion of wireless technology, which
has rendered space and distance
inconsequential for learning. In
2004, ST Electronics participated
in a pilot programme under IDA’s
BackPack.NET initiative. As
the main system integrator,
ST Electronics (Info-Comm
Systems) [STEE-InfoComm]
launched a wireless network at
Crescent Girls’ School, allowing
lessons to be truly mobile. Armed
with a tablet PC
containing digitised
textbooks, each student
can communicate with
her teacher, and access
lessons and resources
anywhere on campus.
(See page 24 for details)
Likewise for Temasek
Polytechnic, a campus-
wide wireless network
infrastructure installed
by ST Electronics eliminated the
need to hunt for fixed network
points. Wireless connectivity
enables the polytechnic’s staff and
students to easily share online
resources, collect and distribute
information, and access lecture
notes, email and the Internet - all of
which adds to the overall learning
experience.
In September 2007, STEE-InfoComm
was awarded a S$3.9m contract to
upgrade the network infrastructure
for 60 schools under the MOE. This
provides a reliable, secured and
scalable high performance network
infrastructure that enables the
schools to fully leverage the use of
ICT for more engaged learning for
the students. The network infra-
structure will provide the platform
for various applications to harness
benefits for students as well as
teachers. Backed by the robust in-
frastructure, these applications will
enhance connectivity, interaction
and collaboration for students with
other schools, their community and
beyond.
In America, ST Electronics’ iDirect
satellite network was implemented
at the Old Dominion University
(ODU), a pioneer in distance
learning. Through an ambitious
three-phase rollout, ODU has been
able to reduce its operating costs,
increase and improve its video
distribution to classrooms around
the continent, and make available a
wealth of digitally archived lectures
to its entire student body. (See page
29 for details)
Changing the Way People Learn
E-learning, in particular, is an
invaluable educational tool, freeing
the process of learning from the
confines of space and time.
ST Electronics’ in-house developed
e-learning solution, Multimedia
Education Resource Interactive
Teacher System (MERiTS), has
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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 joint-
venture 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, With ST Electronics’ in-house
Chairman, Glotur), Mr Eric Chan (General Manager, STEE-T&S), Mr Gary Chan (Dy
Vice President - E-learning Business, STEE-T&S) developed e-training contents and
platform, the company offers a vast
ST Electronics’ Joint Venture in array of e-training products and
Kazakhstan services via the Internet, covering
In view of the potential growth in the area of e-learning, over 200 types of web-based profes-
ST Electronics (Training & Simulation) Pte Ltd has set
sional courses.
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 The future of education is here
by Kazakhstan’s National Innovation Fund which provides today. ST Electronics’ extensive
start-up capital to new companies that demonstrate domain knowledge in training,
potential in creating new technologies or the opening of simulation and digital media has
new markets for Kazakhstan.
laid the foundation for the delivery
MERiTS Technologies will focus on education projects in of sophisticated yet pragmatic
Kazakhstan, including the supply, installation and inte- educational solutions to a new
gration of equipment, operating software and learning generation of learners. Its expertise,
courseware for public schools and private institutions in coupled with its state-of-the-art
the country. The more than 8,000 education facilities in
applications and pioneering spirit,
Kazakhstan present MERiTS Technologies with opportuni-
ties to customise education solutions for this market and to will enable ST Electronics to play a
sell these products to countries in the Central Asian region. leading role in revolutionising the
MERiTS Technologies will also assist STEE-T&S in seeking face of education.
viable business opportunities in the region.

volume 21 no. 2 23