Maxis has launched eCikgu – a brand new feature in the eKelas portal, to enable students to connect and engage better with teachers via a chat forum. Separately, Maxis also announced the expansion of its digital learning initiative for the rural and underserved communities, to include Primary 6, Form 4 and Form starting next year.
Gracing the event at Menara Maxis was Yang Berhormat Tuan Eddin Syazlee Shith, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia, who launched eCikgu in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the eKelas Holiday Camp 2018. Also present at the event were YM Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Maxis’ Chairman; Robert Nason, Maxis’ CEO; YBhg Dato’ Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus, Chief Officer, Communications and Digital Ecosystem Sector, Malaysian Communication & Multimedia Commission (MCMC); and Gokhan Ogut, Maxis’ Chief Operating Officer.
Apa itu eCikgu, cikgu?
eCikgu combines a live tutorial with a chat forum, where students can type questions related to the subject being taught in the forum. Teachers can then provide answers immediately during the lesson.
The new feature enables more students to ask questions during the live tutorial, to ensure better understanding of the subject.
It’s also a platform for teachers and students from around country to interact, share multimedia documents and additional learning material such as video and pictures.
Ultimately, students will become more digitally savvy as they familiarise themselves with the eCikgu platform.
Digital learning powered by Maxis
Introduced in 2016, Maxis eKelas is an after-school digital learning initiative that is focused on improving academic performance in rural areas or for urban poor communities, by harnessing technology and the internet.
The programme focuses on three core subjects – Science, Mathematics and English, for Form 1, 2 and 3 students. It uses a combination of live tutorials, group learning and interactive digital content, in line with the Malaysian School Syllabus.
The class gets bigger
Maxis first piloted the initiative at 10 Community Broadband Centres (CBCs, formerly known as Pusat Internet 1Malaysia) under its care in Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan. Community Broadband Centres serve has digital hubs for communities in underserved areas.
Initially impacting 1,200 students, eKelas has grown to cover 55 CBCs located across 10 states, connecting over 6,000 students. The programme is expected to reach 10,000 students in 2018. There are over 730 CBCs around Malaysia currently.
In August last year, Maxis introduced its eKelas portal which enables students to access cloud-based resources and learning content for on-demand learning.
The portal encourages interaction between students and teachers, as well as spurs student motivation through a leaderboard that keeps track of points scored by students.
With support from the MCMC, Maxis announced the expansion of eKelas to new target groups – Primary 6, Form 4 and Form 5, complementing the current Form 1, 2 and 3 students. The expansion is slated for next year and will provide the opportunity for students sitting for the critical UPSR, PT3 and SPM exams to leverage eKelas and aid them in their preparations.
The bi-annual eKelas Holiday Camp, an educational, fun-filled camp took place from 21-23 November. One hundred of the top eKelas students from 24 CBCs nationwide participated in fun activities, interactive workshops, paid a visit to Petrosains in KLCC as well as engaged with teachers and fellow eKelas students from all over the country.
In partnership with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), this year’s Holiday Camp was hosted at the UKM campus for the first two days.
Find out more about Maxis eKelas here: www.maxis.com.my/en/about-maxis/corporate-responsibility/maxis-ekelas/maxis-ekelas.html
