NEWS: Going Green

SUN Microsystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd and University Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak recently launched the Thin Client Centre at the university’s main library, to meet the needs of a new digital generation.

The centre will provide the students with three education essentials — access, communication and collaboration — to address the growing demand for better eco-solution awareness, as UPSI works towards achieving a greener environment.

The partnership is to also educate the university community on the ecological impact of today’s technologies and how they can be part of the eco-responsibility initiative to reduce energy costs and IT environmental impact,” said Prof Mustamam Abd Karim, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (research & innovation).

“Our partnership with Sun is in line with our efforts to work towards k-Perak, an IT initiative by the Perak state government to develop ICT and enable Perak achieve ‘knowledge state’ status by 2010.”

He added that UPSI was keen on the technology because of its environmental benefits and efficiencies.

“The centre will provide one-stop support and integration services for the university and its students.

“There is also a services kiosk where students can get access to more efficient printing resources for class and project submission and documentation,” said Prof Mustamaman.

The centre, besides having a centralised data and applications system, also has greater security as virus attacks are eliminated.

The centre’s servers consume less power which makes this a “green” solution, said Sun’s managing director C.P. Loo.

NEWS: Thumbs-up for ICT project

KPERAK Inc Corporation will continue with its ICT initiative for 59 primary and 57 secondary schools in Perak, as there has been an improvement in Maths and Science scores at UPSR and PMR levels in these schools after the implementation of the ICT programme.

Three workshops were recently held for more than 1,200 Maths and Science teachers at the Perak Techno-Trade Centre building. Last year, KPerak had conducted nine workshops for more than 5,000 students and two workshops for over 670 teachers in Perak.

This year's initiative also saw KPerak sponsoring 150,000 books equipped with E-tutor software, eMaz and eScz to students and teachers in the selected schools.

The eMaz and eScz software provided step-by-step solutions to questions in the e-Tutor workbook, incorporated visual and audio aided learning and allowed students to study at their own time, pace and place. The software also highlighted the correct pronunciation of Maths and Science terminologies in English.

The supplementary textbooks from Andaman Publications included titles from Years One to Six and Forms One to Five.

The workshops, conducted by The Star columnist for Additional Mathematics and Physics, Sunny Yee, offered tips on how to stimulate students' interest in, and enhance their understanding of, Maths and Science.

“The workshop was very interactive and useful,” said SMK Matang teacher K. Kanimalah.

“E-tutor is just the thing for our students as some cannot afford to buy revision books,” she added.

KPerak Inc Corporation has been tasked with developing four ICT sub-sectors and new growth areas in the state – multimedia content, IT outsourcing, new media and data services.

“We hope that the ICT projects will expose students in the selected schools to the importance of Internet technology,” said KPerak Inc Corporation chief executive officer, Datuk Yaacob Nordin, at the launch of the workshops.