A sampling of this was demonstrated at a recent "E-Learning Lecture on Charter Change by the Commission of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission" wherein a satellite link up was utilized to broadcast real-time the interactive open forum-cum-lecture.

The broadcast included a real time webcast that beamed the proceedings to over 200 AMA schools nationwide utilizing Mabuhay Satellite’s state-of-the-art technology and facilities.

The lecture, held at the audio-visual auditorium of AMA Computer College Makati branch, was organized by the AMA Academic Affairs Department led by Vice President Arnel Hibo and Senior Director Ma. Redina Victoria.

In a press release to InfoTech, AMAES President Amable C. Aguiluz IX said the event further boosted AMA’s position as a leading IT-based education hub in the whole of Asia, describing it as "a mile ahead from its nearest competition."

He stated the Wide Area Network (WAN) of AMA is the largest ever established in the country and in Asia. "In a nutshell, AMA students can acquire e-Learning via satellite and wirelessly. A very effective tool that can supplement other online services offered by the school such as webcast (streaming video and audio), interactive facilities (chat, electronic messaging, e-mail), Intralearn and voice-overIP (VoIP)."

The lecture featured interactive participation from the studio audience and the online audience consisting of 20,000 AMA students from various parts of the country.

Hibo said the lecture is very significant as it will help define the future of education in the country. E-learning combined with satellite broadcast technology is the latest trend in education and is widely practiced in the Untied States of America, Japan and Europe.

AMA is now developing this new technology for future interactive sessions that will be a tool and a hub for information dissemination. This includes a planned conference consisting of an audience from various sectors and publics not only students. (Edison D. Ong)