Haze or no haze, classes continued as usual during these last two months at Cempaka Schools.

When the Air Pollutant Index reaches ‘unhealthy’ levels, the stable of Cempaka Schools would literally be closed but classes would still take place - online.

“While the classrooms of Cempaka Schools Malaysia may be empty following the Education Ministry’s directive, their students in four campuses are kept busy attending classes online,” said Cempaka Schools Malaysia founder-mentor Freida Pilus.

This scenario created a hands-on opportunity even for parents to observe how Cempaka teachers performed online in educating their children who did not have to leave home to attend classes in the haze​.

Freida ( left ) said the Cempaka@Home programme, using Schoology software, allowed teachers to manage their classrooms, engage with their students, share resources and connect with them virtually.

The US-based learning management system enabled the students to continue their lessons virtually, Freida said at Malaysiakini ’s mock press conference, at Campuskini’s ‘Understanding the Media Workshop’ in Petaling Jaya this week.

Schoology, she added, is an application which has won numerous awards such as the Codie Award - the Oscars for the edu-tech industry - for the best learning management system in 2015.

Virtual lessons

“Teachers continued teaching online all lessons based on the normal daily timetable and some students attentively attended classes in their pyjamas in the comfort of their homes using online video conferencing.

“Classes went on as normal with online discussions, interactive quizzes and assignments, as teachers ensure no one was left behind in the haze,” she told participants at the two-day media workshop coached by veteran journalist M Krishnamoorthy.

Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran and editor-in-chief, Steven Gan also spoke about the social media, challenges, and how companies could get their story in the media.

The mock press conference was held to demonstrate to the corporate public relations participants ​from government, GLCs, and the private sector.

Participants ​doubled up as reporters ​in the class ​to get practical experience, and learn the dos and don’ts of a press conference.

Freida added: “We embrace technology so that none of students are left behind in the curriculum and their lessons. The goal of Cempaka Schools is to always be at the forefront of education technology. For this reason, our school has employed its own revolutionary Cempaka@Home program during this extensive haze period.”

Due to the worsening haze, the Education Ministry ordered the closure of almost 7,000 schools in affected areas nationwide, involving approximately 4 million students.

Unfazed by haze

“Empowered by Schoology, the Internet, laptops and mobile devices, students at Cempaka were able to stay connected with their teachers and classmates at home. Attendance was full in most of the virtual classroom sessions,” said Schoology Asia’s CEO Ervin Noordin.

This programme was first created in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak in 2003 and first implemented at Cempaka Schools Malaysia during the H1N1 scare in 2009, when the Ministry of Health mandated closure of certain schools in an effort to halt the spread of the virus.

“The haze has become an annual phenomenon, and this year’s long-drawn one is severe. For this purpose, the Cempaka@Home programme ensures classrooms are filled, learning continues, and students’ minds remain engaged in studies,” Freida added.