Innovations introduced to strengthen education under “Empowering Digital Education” concept as importance of cybersecurity is underlined
Bangkok, 2 June 2016 – In response to the government’s policy to drive Thailand’s growth into the ‘Digital Thailand’ era through the power of technology and enhance the country’s pool of infrastructure, innovation, information, and human capital, Microsoft Thailand took part in the “Digital Thailand 2016” international exhibition and academic conference at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on May 26-28, 2016 to present a vision of technologically-enhanced education under the concept of “Empowering Digital Education.”
“Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our participation in the Digital Thailand 2016 event is essentially a statement to the public that we are ready to drive Thai education forward with the power of technology – including Microsoft’s own services, platforms, and devices as well as various learning aids,” said Orapong Thien-Ngern, General Manager, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited. “We have been working alongside non-profit partners to organize activities in support of educators in Thailand. Through these activities, we provide not only enhanced impact for the learning process but also increased awareness of security and privacy basics – a key factor in preventing cybercrime and protecting our children from threats in the digital world.”
- Interactive Online Learning & Teaching: The use of technology to enhance education in the digital era is demonstrated here in a Virtual Classroom setup. Through Office 365 for Education, students can work, collaborate, and exchange knowledge through applications such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Skype for Business, meanwhile, makes long-distance learning more effective than ever and enables two-way communication – both between teachers and students and among the students themselves. Each Virtual Classroom is capable of accommodating up to 250 active user accounts.
- Cloud for Education and Public Cloud for Public Good: This area highlighted the use of cloud-based technologies – such as Microsoft Azure and Office 365 – to improve productivity for students and educators alike. Under the “Public Cloud for Public Good” initiative, Microsoft has contributed 70 million baht in software solutions along with free training programs to 430 nonprofits around the country, empowering them to do more for their communities with the power of tools like Office 365, Skype, and Sway.
- Teaching & Learning Innovations: A showcase of innovations from the minds of Thai teachers under the Microsoft Thailand Innovative Teachers program, this exhibit demonstrated how educators could overcome the obstacles presented by traditional learning methods with technology. Sakda Junklun, a teacher from Princess Chulabhorn’s College, Phetchaburi province, integrated applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as social network tools into his chemistry lessons. Furthermore, his students were able to take advantage of other software tools to plan their projects before execution and minimize excessive costs or mistakes. Meanwhile, Chakrabongse Chandrawongsa of Hang Dong Ratrat Upatham School, Chiang Mai province, tackled the issue of smartphone distraction in the classroom with learning activities centered on the smartphones themselves – such as a 3D look into the inner workings of the human body via a smartphone or the presentation of experiment results through the Sway app.
- Learning Everywhere, Anytime: In recognition of the impact of edutainment, Microsoft is enabling the learning process to take place anywhere at any time. Windows 10 devices, for instance, allow classes to be conducted in an interactive, real-time manner. Furthermore, Microsoft has introduced a game-based approach to learning in the form of an engaging mathematics lesson app on Windows 10. Utilizing the Kinect motion sensor hardware, the app delivers an enjoyable learning experience and encourages students to actively take part in the process as they have to use body movements to select the right answers to questions in the lesson.
In addition to these four pillars, Microsoft joined forces with the ICT Ministry to organize the Hour of Code activity, which taught the basics of coding to children using hit videogame Minecraft as a medium. Designed to inspire interest in computer science among Thai youth, the activity offered participants a chance to develop basic analytical and problem-solving skills as well as sharpen their creativity. Attended by ICT Minister Dr. Uttama Savanayana, the session featured popular game caster Pakawat “Uncle Pee” Leupatanasuk in a special live commentary session on the show floor.
The Minecraft-based coding lessons in Hour of Code are designed and developed for children from age 6 onward. The lessons present basic coding skills in the form of a 2-dimensional take on Minecraft, challenging students to collect blocks that form functional computer code. All 14 stages in the program are playable with no time limits imposed, allowing children to freely explore and learn about coding concepts throughout their experience.
Microsoft also took part in the academic conference portion of the Digital Thailand 2016 event with Ms. Angela McKay, Director of Government Security Policy and Strategy, participating in an exchange of knowledge and opinions on cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. Ms. McKay delivered an exclusive keynote address under the topic of “How the Shield was Forged in Microsoft’s Way” to underline the company’s vision and strategy for security in the digital world – covering the aspects of technology, principles, policies, and collaboration with various stakeholders.
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About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @Microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited aims to Make 70 Million Lives Better by enabling Thai people and businesses to realize their full potential through technology that transforms the way people work, play, and communicate. We offer software, services, and devices that deliver new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. Working with communities and the Thai government, Microsoft and its partners are committed to working closely with organizations and people across Thailand to fully harness the power of technology and innovation.
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For further information, (press) please contact:
Pornravee Suramool or Thornthawat Thongnab
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