Ricky Banaag, Intel Phil. Country Manager, with Classmate PC

For example, we found ourselves at the Manila Peninsula on the 27^th of July, expecting a simple introduction to a low-cost laptop intended for developing markets, but got more than we bargained for – somewhere along the vein of “the most noble”.

Intel’s “World Ahead” program is an on-going effort by the software giant to “connect the next billion people to a world of opportunity” – this being the program’s official by-line. Already established in selected schools around the world, Intel is now rolling out the program in the Philippines initially in two pilot schools where the best implementation, usage and methods can be studied and applied to furthering this program.

One key component of the World Ahead program is the classmate PC, a ruggedized, portable laptop designed for the classroom environment and student’s hands. It was at this point that we learned that we were actually being introduced not to the hardware alone, but to a whole program of which it is but a small part. By its lonesome, it is definitely not cutting edge – any decent commercially available laptop will outstrip it in games or daily applications.  Yet this piece of hardware is not commercially available, and has a more serious purpose than running The Sims at 1024x768.

Members of the media learning their numbers anew

Intel’s efforts for expanding and improving the learning process in developing countries require an easily implemented and easy-to-use computer to achieve the optimum scenario: 1 to 1 e-learning – one computer per student overseen by a teacher with his or her own laptop. The Classmate PC’s simplicity belies its highly compatible nature with the normal PC ecosystem, meaning simply that it is easy to adapt to existing infrastructure and computing methods.

Intel’s success in other countries serves as a testament to this laptop's effectiveness in the framework of the overall program. Intel is working closely with Smartpoint Solutions, a systems integration company to achieve the same success here in the Philippines. Smartpoint demonstrated the system’s use by inviting one of the graduates of Intel Teach to the Future (a program for training teachers in ICT) to actually teach a mock class, composed of the media some basic arithmetic (A worthwhile endeavor.) Ms. Jocelyn Clemente showed us how the teacher can take control of the curriculum and keep tabs on student performance at the same time.  Interaction between teacher and “student” was immediate. This shows us the potential benefit of a properly implemented ICT system geared towards learning – a familiarization for prevalent technology, teacher-student interaction, efficient classroom learning and better administration for the student’s records.

The hardware we had in our hands was simple and even a bit outdated, but faced with the scope of its purpose and potential use, we could not help but be awed by Intel’s vision and the fact that Smartpoint systems, a local company is already at the verge of doing a pilot program for its implementation.  So forgive a jaded hardware enthusiast if the Classmate PC wasn’t met with more enthusiasm, but after realizing where this little platform is positioned in the great scheme of things, I’m starting to wonder if Intel didn’t also cram a little soul in the small package - a noble soul committed to improving education through technology.