PHINMA Education, Globe enable flexible learning with mobile data for students

PHINMA Education, a fast-growing network of schools in Southeast Asia, recently partnered with Globe Telecom to provide mobile data to selected schools in its system as part of its FlexLearning@PHINMAEd program. Students in PHINMA Araullo University in Nueva Ecija and PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College will benefit from the project.

“Education must continue regardless of the situation and challenges that lie ahead. We believe that every Filipino student, especially those who have the determination to learn but don’t have the financial resources to do so, should have access to quality education,” shared Dr. Raymundo P. Reyes, PHINMA Education Philippines Country Head. “We’re thankful to have the support of Globe in helping our students succeed, allowing them to remain safe, and ensuring they have the tools they need to take charge of their future.”

While e-learning is the more popular option for schools in the country, PHINMA Education opted for a flexible learning structure that maximizes mobile data, often the primary means for students from underserved communities to access the internet. Each student will be given mobile data to access apps designed to make remote learning more efficient such as Hangouts, Viber, WhatsApp, Zoom, GSuite, Office 365, Canva, Canvas, and Course Hero.

 

“With where education is heading in the long run, now is the right time to put digital solutions to work, and sustain the advantages it has to offer,” said Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business. “Our collaboration with PHINMA Education will not only allow us to showcase the power of connectivity and digital technologies, but will also create an opportunity for us to serve the Filipino youth and their families as they figure out how to navigate the complexities caused by the pandemic.”

 

Aside from mobile data, Globe is set to help PHINMA equip its Nueva Ecija and Cagayan de Oro campuses with internet connectivity and digital payment facilities. Upon the resumption of face-to-face classes, PHINMA Education will have already established its iLearn Zones powered by Globe internet hotspots through GoWiFi. The presence of GCash Scan to Pay QR Codes, ECPay, and Touchpay terminals will also make it easier for both students and parents to seamlessly complete enrollment, putting digitalization in full swing.

 

PHINMA Education Holdings, Inc. is the education services subsidiary of PHINMA Corporation, a Filipino-owned conglomerate with investments in education, property development, hospitality, and construction materials. The former owns and operates seven schools across the Philippines and manages one in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia.

 

Globe continues to work with schools such as PHINMA Education in assisting the industry through low-cost data plans and digital solutions. Beyond the education sector, Globe has also started implementing network enhancements and capacity builds with its USD1.2 billion CAPEX investment earlier this year. With this, Globe envisions connectivity strengthened by ICT infrastructure growth, network upgrades, and deployment of cellular towers so that more Filipinos will one day be able to experience #1stWorldInternetPH.

Reach more possibilities with reliable connectivity solutions and digital services. Get in touch with your Globe Business Account Manager to learn more. Check out our website for the latest products and services to help you build your school’s digital future.

ePLDT launches Virtual Desktop for secure, simplified WFH experience

(Manila, Philippines – August 2020) With more businesses transitioning to work-from-home schemes given the ongoing global pandemic, ePLDT Inc. introduces its latest cloud service called ePLDT Virtual Desktop to help businesses and employees simplify remote work while remaining secure and economical.

Part of ePLDT Cloud’s portfolio, the Virtual Desktop solution enables simplified and secure remote management of desktops and applications via the cloud – allowing remote workers to enjoy the same user experience as if they were in their office or workstation.

As it’s cloud-based, ePLDT Virtual Desktop provides enhanced security for businesses with remote users having safe and secure access to corporate data and applications authorized by the company. The security and integration controls help reduce security risks and ensure that no valuable corporate data are at risk in the endpoints—integral to an easy yet robust work-from-home experience.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups underscored that the introduction of Virtual Desktop is in support of ePLDT’s thrust to simplify the complex for its customers. 

"Our aim at ePLDT is to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation by simplifying the complex, especially today as they navigate through the pandemic," said Hernandez. “We designed this new service to address the needs of our customers looking for secure, scalable, and easy-to-deploy cloud solutions that can help them continue their operations, regardless of where they are. It’s as simple as that.”

The desktop management interface is easy to maintain and even allows upgrades & updates from a single console – allowing for faster desktop deployment.  Employees are also able to access the virtual desktop from any device they choose, whether it’s Windows, Mac, or Linux, or even their iOS and Android mobile phones. 

ePLDT Virtual Desktop service also lets businesses to enjoy flexibility and cost savings for work-from-home arrangements as opposed to setting up their own homegrown VPN or buying new servers to support remote work.

Moreover, ePLDT provides local, end-to-end support and deployment for the service - coupled with the group's expertise in the cloud - to simplify its integration and implementation for customers.

ePLDT Virtual Desktop brings together industry experts to ensure the high integrity and reliability of the said solution. It leverages on the capabilities of Microsoft Azure to deliver the security, simplified management and integration, and seamless user experience employees working from home need.

“Our focus throughout this unprecedented time has been on making sure our customers, partners and communities around the world remain connected, productive and secure,” said Andres Ortola, Country General Manager for Microsoft Philippines. “Through our longstanding partnership with ePLDT, we’re able to deliver on that commitment, providing Filipino businesses with the collaborative tools and systems they need to respond, recover, build resilience, and achieve more.”

In light of the community quarantine measures, PLDT has deployed 1,000 seats of the Virtual Desktop solution within the group to allow a smooth work-from-home arrangement for its employees—enabling them to remain efficient and productive while working remotely.

For more information on ePLDT Virtual Desktop, visit https://www.epldt.com/cloud/virtual-desktop/. 

Here’s why inkjet printers are essential in the age of blended learning

August 2020, Philippines - The the recent resumption of classes comes with its fair share of new challenges, as students and educational institutions transition from a traditional classroom set-up to blended learning that maximizes both online and physical learning resources. Given the limitations of computer and TV screens as a learning platforms, maximizing the use of printed materials is also critical for effective learning at home, and Epson’s multi-function inkjet printers such as its WorkForce series prove to be the economical and the environmentally-sound choice for this.

Save big with in-house printing

Though online platforms paved the way for instructors to establish remote learning with students, printed learning materials like worksheets still play a major role in a blended learning setup. Given the large volume of instructional materials to be provided to the students, it is evident that in-house printing is convenient and advantageous for learning centers and academic institutions compared to outsourcing the service. Economically, in-house printing makes a lot of sense as expenses from reaching out to print shops add up cost-wise. Consider this: outsourced mono printing costs an average of P5.00 per sheet in some print shops compared to P0.73 for in-house, which is already inclusive of paper costs. Color printing at most print shops is at P10 per page, but when done in-house, the cost per page is only at P2.09. If 20-page colored workbooks are outsourced for 20 students a week, that would mean spending P 4,000 weekly instead of P836. Having a dedicated printer for the institution or business is clearly economically sound, with savings that can run up to thousands of pesos over time.

Moreover, printing documents and worksheets in-house reduces the risk of copyright infringement, ensuring that no other individual or parties get a hold of the digital copies and eventually distributing these worksheets for their own profit. It makes learning centers and academic facilities self-sufficient when it comes to learning materials while allowing students and parents to focus more on the studies and reducing their stresses of having to print the materials themselves.

Choose Epson’s Multifunction Inkjet Printers

When choosing printers, there is the misconception that laser printers are superior to inkjet, especially in a commercial setup. Laser printers are usually perceived as heavy-duty printers that cost less than other formats. This may have been the scenario years ago, but with the advancements in technology, inkjet printers now have the speed and quality comparable to laser printers with the low-cost feature that inkjets are known for. Epson’s multi-function inkjet printers prove to be efficient, with the capacity to produce up to A3 size prints with a speed of 25 to 100ppm.

Laser printing typically employs a complex process from sending to receiving the print job. Inside a laser printer are several parts that require pre-reheating and fusing to melt the toner onto the paper. This process is the reason why printouts tend to be warm after the machine releases the paper.

Most of Epson’s inkjet printers, such as the Epson WorkForce Enterprise models, stand out from the rest with its next-generation PrecisionCore printhead technology. It is an advanced form of its Micro Piezo technology, which is present in every Epson inkjet printing system. Micro Piezo printheads eject droplets of ink via mechanical pressure without requiring any heat, separating Epson’s technology from all the other thermal inkjet systems.

Heat-Free Technology in Epson’s inkjet printers allow for more productivity and more savings, with less environmental impact. A 2018 Meralco test done on the energy consumption of Epson’s AL-M310DN laser printer showed that it consumes an estimated P4.66 kWh, compared to Epson’s WF-C869R multi-function inkjet printer which only tested at P0.38 kWh. In peso terms, this means that operating a laser printer is a lot more expensive than an inkjet, as it could easily raise your electricity charges drastically. 

With blended learning now a reality for Filipinos, Epson’s innovative multi-function printers are the go-to ecological and reliable choice for academic institutions and enterprises. Learn more about Epson’s WorkForce series here or get them at Epson's authorized dealer stores nationwide.

Cook your way to greatness with Enchanted Kingdom’s Kiddie Chef Challenge 2020

It’s time to give your little ones a break from their usual home activities and let them discover the joys of cooking! Unleash the little chef in your kids and join Enchanted Kingdom’s Kiddie Chef Challenge 2020: Recipes from Home Edition! Prepare their aprons, gather all the cookery essentials, and get ready for a virtual cooking challenge!

This fun online challenge is open to all aspiring little chefs ages 4-12 years old who want to show off their incredible culinary skills. Share your kids’ food entry until August 11, 2020, using Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog, SPAM Luncheon Meat, and/or Magnolia products inspired by one of EK’s seven themed zones (you may check out our official website for info on EK’s zones www.enchantedkingdom.ph).

Terms and Conditions:

1. Like Enchanted Kingdom’s official Facebook page.
2. All entries must have the following:

• Complete recipe (including the participating products used)
• Photo collage of the finished dish with participant’s photo while cooking

3. Post the photo at EK Kiddie Chef Challenge FB post’s comment section.
4. Use the hashtags: #EKKiddieChef, #iloveEK and #EKatHome.

Winners will be announced on August 14, 2020, and will receive four (4) Regular Day Passes each plus a special gift basket from EK partners.

Enchanted Kingdom is excited to see your kids’ tasteful treats and mouth-watering creations! Come and join in the culinary fun!

For more information, visit Enchanted Kingdom’s official website and Facebook page at www.enchantedkingdom.ph and www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph

or click https://web.facebook.com/notes/enchanted-kingdom/kiddie-chef-challenge-recipes-from-home/3624944944200412/?_rdc=1&_rdr to know the complete contest mechanics.

PLDT Enterprise supports University of Cagayan Valley (UCV) in the use of e-learning

(Manila, Philippines – July 2020) With education evolving to online technology and digital tools, PLDT's support to UCV for e-learning is especially critical during these extraordinary times when educational institutions are finding new ways to extend their classrooms beyond the traditional walls.

UCV has long been a partner of PLDT Enterprise for connectivity and communication services since 2010. However, this long-standing partnership was fortified  when UCV availed of Microsoft Learning Management System (LMS) licenses from PLDT Enterprise to be used by their faculty and students.

"We want to help UCV amplify its vision to become a citadel of teaching-learning and public research, linking the people of Cagayan Valley to the nation and the world. We want to help UCV achieve this vision by introducing an innovative tool that would help students become locally and globally comparable despite the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

Through LMS, UCV is now able to deliver instruction on the Microsoft 365 platform through SharePoint, Teams and Mobile devices providing a familiar environment for their staff, faculty, and students. Moreover, the platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate allowing teachers to effectively continue online teaching and enabling students to online learning.

Vic Tria, First Vice President of PLDT Enterprise, added that as e-learning is a promising strategy introduced by the Department of Education, our partnership with UCV makes digital technology a paramount tool for the academe  as well as other industries and sectors  which ensures continuity of operations. Aside from Microsoft LMS 365, UCV is also availing the PLDT Smart connectivity to be made available as soon as the enrolment is finalized. These are steps to support initiatives for e-learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCV President, Dr. Susan Esther N. Perez-Mari, said that strengthening the digital technology of UCV through e-learning systems, one of which is from PLDT, shows their continued commitment to the Philosophy of its founders “Every man, irrespective of creed and economic status has the inherent right and access to quality education.” “We appreciate that PLDT is one of our partners in the voyage of UCV in finding the best alternative solutions for both our students and our faculty,” said Dr. Perez.

PLDT Enterprise, De La Salle Lipa partners to enable e-Learning

(Manila, Philippines – July 2020) PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider recently turned over 665 units of pocket WiFi devices with Smart GIGA Study plans for the use of the Lasallian Associate Partners of De La Salle Lipa in Batangas.

The SMART pocket WiFi devices will augment the school's ‘BorderFree Education’ system by connecting teachers and students online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SMART’s Giga Study plans are specially developed prepaid packages that cater exclusively to the academe.  Giga Study includes daily data allocations for online learning tools essential to today’s new normal of learning.  It also provides open data allocations that can enable both learners and faculty members to access information vital to furthering their expanded online needs.

“We have not stopped teaching. Even before March 15, we already had approximately 15 kilometers of fiber optic cable on the whole campus, linking all our classrooms in a Local Area Network. So we were prepared for this emergency. Through PLDT, we are extending our virtual infrastructure beyond the physical campus into the homes of our teachers. Thus the name ‘BorderFree Education’," said Ms. Dfezie Torres-Tipan, Chief of Strategic Services of De La Salle Lipa.

The school has nearly 800 academic and administrative staff and over 9,000 enrolled students. The fortified partnership with PLDT Enterprise provides the necessary connectivity for the faculty to conduct their educational activities for the benefit of their students who are safely studying at home.

“We hope to reinforce this the fortified partnership further in the future by also providing the students of De La Salle Lipa with stronger internet connectivity at home.” “Our students, faculty, and staff can access our digital educational infrastructure even as they are working from home," Tipan added. 

This initiative is only one part of PLDT’s ongoing efforts to enable schools like De La Salle Lipa, to leverage on technology and continuous learning for its students even while at home.

"Our stance with the government to help combat this current crisis and help cope with the guidelines of quarantine has been the echoing mandate not just for us in PLDT, but of the entire MVP Group of companies," said ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy I. Hernandez.

"We hope to expand our partnerships with the other schools and academic institutions to make e-learning not just as the band-aid solution today but instead, the catalyst to elevate our education system to the next level of learning," he added.

Globe myBusiness powers Ateneo de Davao’s digital school year

Industries are developing ways to thrive amid the new normal brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the coming school year, educational institutions are transitioning to online learning to allow students to complete their requirements while staying safe at home. 

Strengthening its position as an invaluable partner in promoting 21st Century Learning, Globe myBusiness has partnered with Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) by providing tailor-made internet plans for the next school year. Through the partnership, the university secured 7,000 Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi units for instructors and students. The kits are equipped with a WiFi modem with a LAN port, free 10GB of data allocation upon modem activation, and access to a customizable suite of apps to aid the learning process.

 

“Technology plays an important role in this global pandemic, as it connects us while keeping us safe in our homes,” shares Bernie Jereza, Institutional Communications, and Promotions or ICOMMP Office Head of ADDU.  “We are making the transition more seamless by providing students their own WiFi kits to stay connected. What started out as an order for 2,000 units quickly became 7,000 to better serve the students of the basic and higher education units.”

 

Jeremy Eliab, Executive Vice President at ADDU cites how technology can open new doors for Ateneo de Davao University, with the possibility of admitting students from other parts of the country and in the future, the world. He also advises other schools to prepare for crises using connectivity and other innovations: “We’re forced to shift. For small schools that don’t have the proper IT infrastructure, use limited resources. Do classes by email or phone, or what your bandwidth can accommodate. Deal with the limitations and shift online.”

 

 #Recreate. The way we learn.

 

In line with partnering with different schools, Globe myBusiness is helping educational institutions integrate technology through the new mySchoolSURF, a lineup of internet promos specifically designed to help students and instructors in online learning. Plans start at P199, which comes with 34GB of data allocation valid for 7 days.
 

All plans come with 4GB daily data allocations for pre-defined apps useful for learning. This includes video conferencing tools like Zoom, and research and productivity platforms such as Office 365, Canva, Blackboard, and Course Hero. It also comes with access to messaging apps like Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.

 

By bridging teachers to information and technology that enable continuous learning, especially during times of crisis, Globe myBusiness continues to prove itself an invaluable partner in promoting 21st Century Learning and improving resilience in education.

 

Learn more about this story via https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/newsroom.html. 

Enchanted Kingdom Supports DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2020 Virtual Kick-off

Department of Education’s annual ‘Brigada Eskwela’ prior to the official opening of classes on August 24 was atypical this year as they launched a virtual program far from the usual school cleanup, classroom repaint, and repairs. DepEd’s ‘Bayanihan 2020’ is focused on strengthening collaboration with different sectors and private stakeholders to ensure that quality education is not compromised amidst pandemic through a provision of opportunities under the department’s Learning Continuity Plan.

 Enchanted Kingdom President and CEO Mario O. Mamon, reaffirms its support to DepEd during the launch of the joint Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela Program.

Mr. Mamon assures that the Department’s call for support will be cropped up, “please consider EK your unique and alternative learning venue as we collectively seek various ways to effectively implement the basic education learning continuity plan of the department this coming school year. We are still in uncertain and challenging times, but with the Filipino Bayanihan spirit, we shall move forward and overcome as one.”

Enchanted Kingdom continuously maximizes the use of social media as a tool for learning. Through its fun and creative edutainment programs and activities, children can still acquire academic learnings as taught in the classrooms, it also provides innovative sets of activities to help hone the child’s artistic skills.

EK has been a staunch advocate of education. Over the years, the country’s leading theme park conducts adopt-a-school initiatives from different schools in the CALABARZON region transforming every classroom into an Enchanting Learning Zone.

Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela program runs from June 1 to August 29, 2020.

To get more information and updates, please visit Enchanted Kingdom's official site: www.enchantedkingdom.ph or go to www.facebook.com/enchantedkingdom.ph

Acer Academy promotes emerging approaches to bolster remote learning access

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused not only economic downturn around the globe, but also educational disruptions, as most governments were forced to close schools to stop the spread of the virus.

As the pandemic is shaping the educational paradigm, Acer Philippines, the country’s leading computer brand in the PC market, has been at the forefront in ensuring that its Acer Academy program members will continue to benefit from the advancements of its EdTech capacity, amid the modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Acer recently launched a webinar—in partnership with school administrators, educators, and stakeholders who are adept in educational computerization—to tackle the challenges in the “new normal” and provide opportunities for innovations in the field of e-learning to facilitate the continuity of education.

The webinar garnered a total of 1,077 online registrants, which indicate a growing public interest in subject matters relating to new learning platforms amid the pandemic.

“We’ve seen the past decades as fast adoption of digital transformation in schools. There’s really a need to harness learning beyond the boundaries of pedagogy and theory, even beyond the limits of geography and demographics,” said Sue Ong Lim, General Manager of Acer Philippines.

“We’ve seen Philippine schools, slowly but surely, evolved in this direction. However, we see that this pandemic has become a major tipping point to propel us to faster speed towards this digital transformation,” she added.

With this, Acer has launched the Faculty and Student Purchase Program for Acer Academy members, which offers up to 30 percent discount on select Acer products and 50 percent less on internet plans.

The computer company, in collaboration with Intel, will also be sponsoring scholars of qualified schools with laptops or desktops to allow education to thrive in the new normal.

Education in a time of the pandemic.

Anna Cherylle Ramos, president of the Philippine eLearning Society and one of the panelists in the webinar, said that the pandemic has imposed a glaring set of challenges to some educators and students who are contending with difficulties in terms of readiness, device acquisition, and availability of connection.

But, on the other hand, it has also shaken up the global learning system, thus catalyzing innovation as many educational institutions are compelled to embrace the new methods to sustain education.

“There were variations in student readiness… A lot of our discussion on face-to-face is teacher-led. At this point, we need to create continuity plans that are contextual to the needs of colleges. We also made use of our institutional guides for students, and intensified our virtual and help desk for students in order to address this challenge,” said Ramos.

She added that, based on data, an effective workaround to continue learning is to plan out a flexible scheme by reducing the students’ learning tasks, setting longer submission time, limiting synchronous learning events, and encouraging the use of offline resources than online.

“A successful digital transformation starts with your deliberate action plan. Your vision will be supported by your school’s philosophy, consistent leadership, and acquiring technology or resources,” she said.

For his part, Shane Laong of the University of Santo Tomas Edtech Center said that compassion, commitment, and competence will weather the reactions in the change in the learning process. He said these can be manifested by setting realistic expectations for students, considering their learning environment, observing leniency when creating learning activities and scheduling deadlines, and providing learning resources in multiple formats.

Remote Learning Collaboration

As e-learning is relatively a new approach to a lot of teachers, most of the responses hint that they are still at a loss of which platforms to use.

Technology giants, such as Microsoft, are stepping up to bring new solutions to aid the learning process by providing platforms to recreate learning environment experience online, and collaborate, share files, and present.

Paolo Balinas, Microsoft Enterprise Channel Manager for Education, said trends show that harnessing technology caters to students with varying learning styles and preferences, as well as promotes active participation among family members and develops learners to be independent.

For Microsoft, the company is offering free learning management solution—the Microsoft Team—to enable the successful implementation of remote learning. MS Team is a portal where teachers and students can hold virtual classes, collaborate, and even make grades.

“Technology is a great enabler of how we could further improve the mode of delivery of education,” he said.

Galileo Offers 50% Off Back To School Promo!

Manila, Philippines -- Another school year is upon us again. Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is here to help your children get ready for the school and transition from the summer vacation to the upcoming school year. Galileo offers core programs that provide innovative teaching strategies that not only develop the learners understanding of Math and English concepts but also create meaningful and fun learning experiences for them. 

Enroll now to not only get the students back into the learning grind but also avail of a 50% discount on Galileo learning fees. Register in our Math, English, or Singapore Math subjects for only PHP 930.00 from May 29 to June 9, 2017.