Classbook – The First Electronic Textbook in Vietnam
2013-06-27 10:17:36
On the morning of June 26, 2013, the Educational E-book Joint Stock Company (EDC) in coordination with the Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) held the launch ceremony of the Classbook electronic textbook.
Attending the ceremony were Dr. Bui The Duc – Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nghia – Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Dr. Nguyen Minh Hong – Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Dr. Nguyen Trong Duong – Director of the IT Department – Ministry of Information and Communications, Professor and mathematician Ngo Bao Chau – Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, representatives from provincial and municipal Departments of Education and Training, representatives from VEPH, the leadership of EDC, as well as representatives from partner organizations, and press and media agencies nationwide.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong speaking at the ceremony
Electronic textbooks are no longer a concept limited to research or pilot programs. In several countries such as the United States, France, South Korea, India, Singapore, and Thailand, initiatives or programs have been launched to develop and deploy electronic textbooks on a large scale. This can be considered an inevitable trend in modern education.
In Vietnam, since 2009, VEPH has partnered with a Korean partner to conduct the first experiments with electronic textbooks. In 2012, EDC was established with the primary mission of developing and deploying electronic textbooks on the dedicated learning device Classbook, delivering the content of textbooks currently used in schools and preparing for the goal of textbook renewal after 2015.
Mr. Pham Thuc Truong Luong – EDC representative answering press questions
With an 8-inch multi-touch screen in a 4:3 ratio, Classbook offers a reading experience similar to traditional textbooks. The IPS (In-Plane Switching) anti-glare technology ensures a wide viewing angle (up to 178 degrees) with true-to-life and natural colors, without adversely affecting the user's eyesight. Classbook has a battery life of 8-10 hours, sufficient for students' use during school hours.
Classbook comes pre-installed with a full set of textbooks and supplementary books for the general education program from grade 1 to grade 12, ensuring compliance with the standard curriculum framework of the Ministry of Education and Training. Throughout the device's usage, users can update all reprints of these books for free. Additionally, Classbook features over 20 supplementary applications for various subjects, suitable for different age groups.
Going beyond the content of traditional textbooks, the Classbook electronic textbook supports the editing and integration of expanded multimedia content for lessons and provides features that allow students to interact with the lesson content.
EDC representative advising guests on using Classbook
Notably, Classbook enables students to self-assess their understanding of lessons or test their proficiency in various subjects. The built-in multiple-choice testing mechanism with automatic scoring and timing allows students to take practice tests or exercises and then self-correct. More importantly, results are recorded so that parents can monitor their children's progress.
In addition to on-device content, Classbook users can connect to the online book store and the Classbook Store application (http://classbook.vn/), which provides a digital educational library including textbooks, supplementary books, teacher's books, reference books, soft skills books, etc.; learning applications and expanded resources for subjects such as simulation experiments, teaching materials, exam banks with solutions, test preparation materials, and learning resources. With an open model, content on Classbook Store will be built and shared by publishers, content providers, online educational services, and most importantly, the teacher community.
Professor Ngo Bao Chau sharing his views on electronic textbooks
For the teacher version, Classbook allows users to use additional reference materials, books, and lectures via memory cards to support the teaching process. The built-in control mechanism for Internet connectivity and installed applications also helps schools and parents feel more secure about their children's use of this device.
During the pilot phase, Classbook was introduced in nearly 400 primary and secondary schools in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Da Nang. Many students and teachers have decided to use the product.
Within the framework of the event, Professor Ngo Bao Chau shared with reporters: “I hope that electronic textbooks can solve the issue that parents and everyone are concerned about: Students having to carry fewer books and notebooks to school.”
Hong Nhung