Written by Ann Nolasco
Vibal Publishing House, Inc. celebrated another milestone last Jan. 29, 2013 with the formal inauguration of the Center for Digital Education in partnership with the Philippine Normal University (PNU).
Vibal Group of Companies Chair Mrs. Esther A. Vibal, Vibal Publishing House President Mr. Gaspar A. Vibal, and PNU President Dr. Ester B. Ogena led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the official turnover of the newly-renovated PC classroom that aims to promote the advancement of technology in Philippine education.
The ceremonies started at 10 a.m., witnessed by PNU officials, Vibal representatives, and some members of the media. Mrs. Vibal, Mr. Vibal, and Dr. Ogena led the ribbon-cutting rites, followed by a short programme highlighted by the symbolic turnover using a keyboard for the Center and a tablet PC to represent another set of donation to the PNU Center for Teaching and Learning (formerly the PNU Laboratory School).
Located on the third floor of Pedro T. Orata Hall in PNU, the PNU-Vibal Center for Digital Education contains 36 PC desktops powered by a Windows8 operating system. Part of the donation package is a projector screen, interactive whiteboard, two airconditioning units, and renovation of the old classroom. The Center will be used to develop proficiency in technology across disciplines for both faculty and students. It will offer online courses for teachers starting on the first semester of AY 2013-14 and is set to be the venue for the annual PNU-Vibal Summer ICT Training program.
Aside from the Center, Vibal's generous initiative also includes the turnover of the V-Smart Classroom-PC Tablets in a Mobile Cart to the PNU Center for Educational Technology and Distance Education headed by its director, Dr. Leticia V. Catris. Thirty-six tablets, loaded with Vibal interactive e-textbooks in all subject areas, will be used by Grade 1 pupils and stored inside the mobile cart. The V-Smart Classroom system is powered by Vibe Technologies, Vibal Publishing's technology arm.
In her speech, Dr. Ogena expressed her appreciation to Vibal: “We promise to take care of the Center, the computers, mobile cart, and tablets, and put them all to good use. This shall serve as a free service education not only to students but also to the future teachers in this institution,” she said.
Mr. Gaspar Vibal meanwhile stressed that the PNU-Vibal Center for Digital Education will surely become “the most fruitful and nominative digital learning and teaching platform” because the facilities will allow the students and teachers to use technology seriously.
“The donations are not just mere donations but they are Vibal's way of installing a software called 'V-Smart' for every student and teacher at PNU, which is really a learning management system through the tablets and PCs,” he noted.
The landmark partnership project is in line with Vibal's advocacy for digital education, while PNU is driven by its commitment to the advancement of teacher education through the use of technology in all learning areas as a means for promoting greater interactivity, widening access to knowledge that will enrich learning, and developing skills in accessing, processing and utilizing information.
(taken from:http://www.vibalpublishing.com/news/item/481-vibal-and-pnu-create-center-for-digital-education)
