TAIPEI, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, online teaching and learning have become the norm for students and teachers around the world. Recognizing the role technology plays in the virtual classroom, Taiwan’s Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (IDB) has worked with local enterprises to use smart technology to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all as part of the Smart City Taiwan project.
Led by the IDB, "Smart City Taiwan" was designed to accelerate the development of smart learning technologies as a means to address systemic challenges related to the inequality and divergence of education. Smart City Taiwan encompasses four projects covering three key areas: Webduino, an intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) platform that allows students interested in programming to start learning sooner and with more convenience; the VoiceTube and LiveABC English education platforms; and NUWA Robotics for early childhood education.
"Given COVID-19’s major disruption to education globally, technology for virtual learning is the most significant application and effective solution to the revival of education. With government support, Taiwanese enterprises can challenge more possibilities, pursue more creative ideas, and actively build comprehensive and sound systems for the future," said the representative of the Smart City Taiwan Project Office.
Kids using VR in the class. (Resource: Envato Elements)
Taiwan offers flexible and effective learning solutions for students
Developed by Kingkit Technology Co., Ltd., Webduino makes programming more accessible for the next generation of digital talents. Students can develop a simple programming system through an easy-to-understand and easy-to-operate drag-and-drop interface and immediately see the outcomes — cultivating a sense of accomplishment whilst also familiarizing themselves with programming concepts.
With globalization connecting the world, English is an essential future skill. VoiceTube turns English education videos into textbooks so that students can learn using their preferred senses with either audio or visuals. In addition, the platform analyzes big data to enhance the effectiveness of learning with personalized courses suited to each student’s individual needs.
Meanwhile, LiveABC leverages augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to break the boundaries of the traditional classroom and has been rolled out in several elementary schools across the country. LIVEABC enables students to experience different English language learning scenarios any time, in any setting with AR. At the same time, LiveABC uses VR to simulate real-life conversations, allowing students to incorporate English into their daily lives in an engaging and effective way.
Taiwan is also exploring the use of robotics to meet social and developmental needs in early childhood education. In an industry-leading move, NUWA Robotics has created humanoid robots with multiple gamification applications that assist preschool children with learning in those crucial foundational years. By combining a vast library of educational resources with AI analysis of a child’s learning history, NUWA robots provide diversified learning experiences adapted to each child’s unique learning style — all while offering a sense of companionship to children.
As online learning becomes the "new normal", IDB will continue to work with local companies to ensure they are prepared for the future. By utilizing new technologies, Taiwan will continue to improve the quality, practicality, and capabilities of knowledge sharing in educational practices.
About Taiwan’s Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs
The Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs has been running the Smart City Taiwan project since 2018. Smart City Taiwan aims to utilize all types of smart technologies (such as IoT, Big Data, and AI) to effectively integrate local, industry, and civilian needs. The project speeds up collaboration and integration between cities and towns to drive local and country innovation. To date, Smart City Taiwan has deployed 224 projects covering six major aspects including agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, tourism, and governance.
For more information, please visit https://www.twsmartcity.org.tw/en/project
