Ed-tech firm all set to empower schools shifting to next normal
WITH educational institutions recalibrating their teaching models with the Department of Education’s (Deped) initiative to integrate in-person class with blended-learning setups, and as the country moves forward to the next normal in the upcoming academic year, education-technology (ed-tech) platform Quipper is ready to enable educators, students and their parents cope up with this transition.
The Japanese ed-tech company will continue to provide its digitallearning solutions for them to embrace the “Hyflex” model, which combines the “hybrid” modalities of teaching, such as face-to-face classes, online and modular-distance learning, and television/ radio-based instruction with “flexible” options for students to choose the manner they participate in the course, and engage with the material in the mode or platform best suited to them.
“Nowadays, educational institutions need to provide their students with more engaged learning experiences, while ensuring their well-being and meaningful connections,” said Quipper Phils. CEO Yusuke Takagi. “All these elements are critical for a successful learning experience now and in the future.”
Takagi added: “Leveraging [on] the right technology and platform can help educators transition to all types of setups for learning.”
To help bridge the gap from traditional learning to the Hyflex model, the company offers its user-friendly learning-management system (LMS) with extensive content, as it enables educators to implement hybrid-learning setups so students can have holistic and flexible learning experiences.
“When the pandemic started, we made sure that we could help our partner schools…implement and transition to the new remote learning dynamics,” the Quipper CEO noted. “Our e-learning solutions provide teachers with teaching guides, editable presentation slides, and other resources to support their daily lessons. We also [have] downloadable study guides for students as alternatives to textbooks and video lessons.”
Quipper’s LMS platform boasts of features that aid educators in managing multiple classes via the customized dashboard, send and schedule assignments, as well as assess students’ performances. It also has a content-management tool for creating and publishing the teacher’s own materials, including a new Essay app for improving student’s writing tasks.
Students, on the other hand, can access their Quipper accounts through an Internet browser, or via Android or IOS apps anytime, anywhere through their mobile phones, even without an Internet connection. Meanwhile, parents can supervise and assist their children’s learning progress by monitoring their activities and deadlines through Quipper’s Parent Portal.
Also, it gives support services covering regular school visits, online help, and platform training for its clients. Monthly usage reports are also delivered to discuss and maximize the platform’s use and pedagogical webinars for educators.
Currently, the ed-tech platform has three solution offerings. Aside from the basic Quipper LMS with Parent Portal and Service Support features, it also offers Quipper School Premium, which lets students access lectures, assessments, and downloadable PDF guides. They can repeat lessons until they are mastered.
Lastly, there is the Quipper Video, which has all these features plus access to Video Lessons. These are 5to 10-minute videos that provide an overview of the topics for learners who want a quicker, summarized version of content.
Current content
FOR this school year, Quipper has just added a new content offering with its K-3 Content Package, which includes topics for math, English, science, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan or social studies for Kinder and Grades 1 to 3.
There are also the senior high school specialized subjects for the accountancy, business and management strand composed of eight subjects such as business math and principles of marketing; as well as ready-made content for Grades 4 to 10 subjects on MEFSA, or math, English, Filipino, science and Araling Panlipunan; and Grades 11 to 12 Core Subjects, which now has an enhanced version aligned with Deped’s Most Essential Learning Competencies.
First-quarter topics and materials for all the subjects from these content offerings are now available on Quipper Link, or Q-link, platform for schools with Quipper School Premium subscriptions. This main portal for teachers enables them to assign activities to their classes for the students to access on their devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and easily track their progress online.
More subjects and the rest of the topics for the second to fourth quarters will be released in the coming months, according to the schedule indicated in the curriculum maps per course or subject.
As of June, Quipper has empowered 59,709 Filipino teachers as well as facilitated 645,016 asynchronous and online live classes in more than 500 subscribed schools nationwide. It has so far assisted 1.7 million Filipino students with an array of content—including 40,624 videos, 670,122 text lessons, 3.7 million exams, 2.2 million assignments, and 207,832 essays.