Smart's school conference promotes new technologies for education

MANILA, Philippines - Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) recently gathered more than a hundred key officials from academic institutions based in Luzon and NCR for the first ever Schools Conference held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Makati City.

With the theme “Shaping Communities for the Future: Empowering Schools through Mobile Solutions”, the event was spearheaded by Smart’s Community Solutions department, which partnered with the academic community to develop breakthrough applications that benefit both the school administration and the student body.

One of the conference highlights was the recognition ceremony for partner schools of Smart’s Infoboard information system (Infoboard). A two-way web-based information system that allows schools to send and receive real-time announcements via SMS broadcasts, Infoboard has become a preferred information tool of schools all over the Philippines. Infoboard facilitates the effective dissemination of relevant updates and information, and likewise gathers feedback from among members of the school community through a customized SIM card. The innovation has earned a nomination in the 2009 GSMA Global Mobile Awards held in Barcelona, Spain.

To date, there are more than 200 partner campuses across the country that have been distributing to their students customized SIM cards powered by Smart’s Infoboard technology. SMART recognized several partner schools during the conference based on four Infoboard categories.  

1. Highest registered Infoboard users: Arellano University, Malayan Colleges, Mapua Institute of Technology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Women’s University, Systems Technology Institute (STI)

2. Highest number of broadcasted Infoboard messages: Far Eastern University FERN College, Philippine Women’s University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

3. Highest Infoboard downloads (Multimedia content): Batangas State University, Malayan Colleges, University of Baguio

4. Best practices in the use of Infoboard: University of Baguio, Ateneo De Manila University, Our Lady of Fatima University, Mapua Institute of Technology

The Schools Conference also featured resource speakers who expounded on how new technologies are impacting education in the Philippines.

Professor Michael Tan, UP dean for College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, spoke about challenges of educational institutions that are related to social media; UP Open University chancellor Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso shared the benefits of online learning; Michelle Casio of Microsoft Philippines, Inc. presented their group’s new innovations that are specific for schools and educators. Prof. Brad Geiser, co-founder of Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications, Inc., discussed social media’s impact on students.

Representatives from Smart who presented the company’s future plans included Dr. Rodolfo Alberto Villarica, department head for Network and Platform Services; Tricia Dizon, department head for Buddy and International Services; Giovanni Bacareza, Department Head for Broadband, Internet, and Data Services; Joy Y. Sanchez, Department Head for Customer Care; and Direk Carlos “Bong” Agustin, Media Consultant for Smart.