V-Smart: The Offline/Online Learning Solution

Looking back into my younger years, my life was all about less fun and more school. My family were not exactly as rich as the Ayala's and Henry Sy's, so my parents would frequently remind us that getting what we want is easy when we've finished college and get a really good job. In order to do that, some things had to be endured: huge bag with 8-10 notebooks and huge books, in-progress projects, and fashion magazines (I know! Haha) everyday. 

I've always wanted a huge Hawk Trolley school bag.

And if only Rimowa wasn't a too-cool-for-school before...

I'd be gladly carry a Michael Wong by Rimowa everyday. :)

If Arthur Clarke once said any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and if education is our passport for a better future... I couldn't help but wonder, what can technology of today may bring that can give a great importance to a better learning and education?

Last Monday, the Philippine Normal University (PNU) National Center for Teacher Education, together with Vibal Publishing House, Inc. and the Vibal Foundation led the 2nd Digital Education Conference: K to 12 Teaching and Learning with Technology held at PNU-HRD Auditorium, Taft Avenue, Manila. The conference was held May 20-21, with subsequent workshops on teaching and learning with technology using K to 12 curriculum. 

The seminar-workshop, which were attended by teachers and schools officials from both private and public schools, and education stakeholders, was set to train selected participants in harnessing the latest ICT tools to facilitate effective and holistic learning; identifying key elements of the K to 12 curriculum suitable for technological appreciation; identifying, utilizing, and promoting digital solutions to enhance instruction and gauge understanding; and developing appropriate methods of teaching and learning grounded on sound pedagogical principles and 21st century realities. 

The said conference was also the right venue to launch an alternative to the existing learning management systems (LMS) that operate entirely through the internet. Vibal Publishing House, Inc. through its technology arm, Vibe Technologies introduced the offline/online leaning solution — V-SMART.

V-Smart is an integrated e-textbook reader, classroom learning management and e-learning system, and can run with to without internet connection. It is powered by a School Server software that can function on a school’s existing network infrastructure. The server can do what other LMS in the market can – and more – as a deployment mechanism of various educational content for use inside the classroom. It can store thousands of files including documents, textbooks, supplementary educational materials, and multimedia assets like video, audio, and music – which can then be available for teachers to access and send to their students instantly. At the same time, the server can host assessment databases which make it possible to deploy unique, randomized exams and other learning analytic tools.

For tablet users, the server can push mobile applications along with updates to each student’s device, like web-based apps for desktop/laptop users. These applications are depicted as complementary tools to existing pedagogical techniques that help enrich students' learning experience. On the side of the school administration, the server can connect with the student information system to access student lists seamlessly and submit grade books just as easily.

Rochell Miguel shares her De La Salle Zobel's experiences in integrating social media in learning.

The integration of e-textbooks and teacher’s manuals inside the LMS; supplementary lessons, exams, and learning objects that specifically address the Philippine curriculum, a customizable interface that can display the school’s logo and color theme, plus digression from the typical e-learning systems that merely generated ordinary content and assessment databases. Instead, the teachers wanted something that will make e-learning more fun, social, and collaborative.

Vibal's Teacher Consultant Ninia Calaca demonstrates V-Smart's advantages and features to the participants.

During the seminar-workshop, participants were trained on V-Smart’s capacity to address the needs of teachers when it comes to classroom management, implementation of curricular guidelines, and activity frameworks. The facility will allow educators to foster an engaging learning experience for their students by providing room for personalized exercises that highlight the importance of differentiated instruction, moderated discussion of the day’s lessons through e-groups, and an overview of students’ performance via updated grade books. Similarly, the V-Smart Teacher Dashboard will provide teachers with access to teaching exemplars that espouse the use of e-learning materials as supplement to specific lessons.

This growing synergy between the traditional and the new opens up a wellspring of opportunities for innovation, variety, professional development, and a sound learning environment that is attuned to the needs of teachers and learners and the demands of the times. Indeed, teaching and learning today is no longer confined within the proverbial four walls of the classroom. 

Vibal Group of Companies's President and CEO Gaspar Vibal on what V-Smart can offer to Philippine education curriculum. 

With V-Smart, education transcends borders, providing greater leverage for today’s modern breed of teachers and learners.

For questions and inquiries, send an email to inquire@vibalpublishing.com or contact the Vibal Group offices:

Manila (988-5800 to 99 loc 359)
Cebu (032-2330173 / 2330176)
Davao (082-2975226 / 2978550)

Visit www.vibalpublishing.com

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