Through the 1BestariNet project, FrogAsia brings the future of education to every student, teacher and parent in Malaysia. Combining high-speed 4G internet access, a world class learning platform, and access to ‘best-in-class’ resources and technology, Malaysia is the first country in the world to bring its entire education community together on a single converged network designed specifically to meet the needs of teaching and learning.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
FROG VLE APPLICATION
Valerie Sinti
December 2013
1.0 1BestariNet Program
1BestariNet is a project initiated by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is a
project to equip all public schools in Malaysia with high-speed internet access and a
virtual-learning environment. Under this project, 10,000 primary and secondary public
schools in Malaysia will be equipped with 4G1
networks and VLE2
.
1BestariNet will be used as a central platform for consolidating all data. This will
entail identifying the key datasets (at the student, school, and system levels) that the
system leaders require in making critical decisions, assessing the present database’s
ability to meet these requirements and augmenting them as need be, and training database
1
Fourth-generation wireless is a type of technology that can be used with cellular phones, wireless computers, and
other mobile devices. This technology gives users faster access to the internet than most previous third-generation
(3G) networks can offer, and it also offers new user options such as the ability to access high-definition (HD) video,
high-quality voice, and high-data-rate wireless channels via mobile devices.
2
Virtual-learning Environment (VLE) is an e-learning education system based on the web that models conventional
in-person education by providing equivalent virtual access to classes, class content, tests, homework, grades,
assessments, and other external resources such as academic or museum website links. It is also a social space where
students and teacher can interact through threaded discussions or chat. It typically uses Web 2.0 tools for 2-way
interaction, and includes a content management system.

2. 2
staff to ensure that they are capable of providing the required data entry and data
synthesis services. The goal is to ensure easy and timely access to data to inform
decision-making at all levels.
The 1BestariNet project has been awarded to YTL Communications Sdn. Bhd.
and FrogAsia Sdn. Bhd. with a total value of RM1.32bil. The contract is for a five-year
period, with an option to extend for another five plus five years, totaling 15 years, and
this would include installation, maintenance and provision of a VLE. YTL and FrogAsia
will provide the latest in learning methodologies in the form of connectivity to the
Internet and use of the Frog Channels.
YTL Corporation Berhad (YTL) is one of the largest
companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia. The company was
listed in 1985 and has a secondary listing on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange since 1996. YTL was the first Asian non-Japanese
company to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The YTL
Group’s core businesses are ownership and management of
regulated utilities and other infrastructural assets, serving 12 million customers in three
continents. YTL selected Frog to be the learning platform provider for the whole of
Malaysia as part of the 1Bestarinet Project. Set-up by the Malaysian Government, the
1Bestarinet Project was developed to provide internet access to all the state schools in
Malaysia. Since then YTL have acquired a majority share in Frog3
.
Frogasia Sdn. Bhd. (FrogAsia) is a joint
venture between FrogTrade Ltd. and Malaysia’s YTL
Group, and is the licensed reseller for the award-
winning Frog learning platform. FrogAsia leverages
on track record and expertise in integrating
technology into schools, while working hand-in-hand with local educators and education
organizations, to deliver a world-class learning system that is relevant to the Asian
3
Beyond just implementing technology, FrogAsia provides solutions focused on harnessing the Internet to transform
education in a meaningful way. Its virtual learning environment (VLE), Frog, developed by sister company
Frogtrade in the UK, is simple, fun, and engaging – which is why schools all around the world have made Frog their
platform of choice. Frogtrade was named ICT Company of the Year at the 2013 BETT Awards in the UK. Source:
http://www.frogtrade.com/

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region. FrogAsia will deliver and support latest technology in 10,000 state schools in
both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, serving a total of 6 million users from YTL
Communications’ purpose built data centre in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
YES, a brand under YTL Communications, offers the fastest 4G mobile internet
with voice. Winner of ‘Broadband InfoVision Awards 2011’ under ‘Best New Service’
category, Frost & Sullivan’s ‘Most Innovative Service Provider of the Year 2012’ and
‘Most Promising Telecom Service Provider of the Year 2013,’ Yes is a global frontrunner
in mobile 4G and is the first mobile operator in Malaysia to bring the worlds of mobile
internet and voice together in one plan. Yes offers among the lowest mobile rates in the
market and currently covers over 85% of the population in Peninsular Malaysia with on-
going network expansions in East Malaysia. With its robust 4G network as a backbone
and a fully-converged mobile service, Yes is one of the most advanced wireless networks
in the world. As a Mobile WiMAX4
provider, Yes uses Yes ID, a username
authentication method that does not require the use of SIM cards. Yes is a product of
YTL in partnership with Cisco, Clearwire, GCT and Samsung. Yes sources their dongles
and modems from Infomark Korea, the same company which Clearwire sources their
devices from.
Through the 1BestariNet project, FrogAsia brings the future of education to every
student, teacher and parent in Malaysia. Combining high-speed 4G internet access, a
world class learning platform, and access to ‘best-in-class’ resources and technology,
Malaysia is the first country in the world to bring its entire education community together
on a single converged network designed specifically to meet the needs of teaching and
learning. The 1BestariNet project connects all schools across the nation on a single
platform through the Frog Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that's powered by Yes
4G5
.
4
WiMAX is Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.
5
Yes is the world's first nationwide converged 4G service that offers data, calls and SMS in one simple plan.

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2.0 Frog VLE Application
FROG is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)6
. The UK-based Frog was
adopted by MOE as a web-oriented, tablet-based e-learning system that replicates real-
world learning by integrating virtual equivalents of conventional concepts of education. It
is a place where students can log into a secure school site to follow up their learning
outside of school. Students may be able to complete tasks set by teachers, blog and
develop their own web pages about themselves and their learning and it is a place to share
learning ideas with their peers. For example, teachers can assign lessons, tests, and marks
virtually, while students can submit homework and view their marks through the VLE.
Parents can view school news and important documents while school administrators can
organize their school calendars and disseminate school notices via the Internet.
Frog’s easy-to-use system allows students and teachers to search for almost
anything on the internet (videos, images, educational resources) and build it into a sleek-
looking Site, without needing any technical expertise. The Frog VLE is also a gateway to
a plethora of educational resources and cool apps from around the web, all accessible
within a safe, filtered environment.
1. Teachers –Frog is simple, easy-to-use, and designed to take teaching to a whole new
level. Assign and keep track of students’ work and marks, create teaching resources,
and connect with other educators. To plan time better with the calendar which allows
viewing, creating, joining or adding events.
2. Students – Learning is fun and personalized with Frog. Explore exciting videos,
games, and posts on The Pond, personalize own home page, upload and save files on
the cloud, complete assignments anytime, anywhere, and share ideas with classmates
and teachers.
6
An application development platform, with a learning platform built into it – (Scripting functionality).

5. 5
3. Parents – Keep track of school events, PTA reports and school notices with the
calendar and school notice board, find all the contact details in need on the Contact
School page, and download permission forms and other important documents at own
convenience.
The Internet is acknowledged as a source of vast, diverse, and unique resources
for both students and teachers of all disciplines. Combined with the specifically
customized applications of the Frog Channels, they provide a valuable tool for teaching
and learning. The Services are being provided to Frog Users7
in schools across the nation
to promote educational excellence by facilitating access to the infinite resources of the
Internet and coupled with the benefits of resource sharing, innovation, and
communication through the Frog Channels.
The Internet is an electronic information highway connecting thousands of
computers all over the world and millions of users. The Frog Channels8
provides
innovative, Internet-based learning solutions designed to help teachers create more
engaging lessons from resources available on the internet as well as foster a culture of
flexible, self-directed learning among students that will enhance their skills and
knowledge. Students, teachers and parents will, among others things, have access to:
 Electronic mail (e-mail) communication.
 Forums for sharing ideas.
 Information and news.
 Public domain software and graphics of all types for educational purposes.
 Graphical access to the World Wide Web, the newest and most exciting access tool
on the Internet.
7
Means all authorized users of the Frog Channels in the permitted MOE schools who have been issued the
1Bestarinet Yes IDs and password under the 1Bestarinet program who is permitted to access to the Services on and
through the Frog Channels.
8
Means any and all interfaces between a Frog User of FrogAsia and YTL and/or the Services and FrogAsia and
YTL from which the Services can be made available.

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Only students and staff at SK Berungis have access to the school Frog VLE.
Students have a secret password which they must not share with anyone else. As part of
all the ICT lessons they discuss e-safety and as they are using Frog VLE they discuss
many of the potential risks and pitfalls of using the internet but in a safe and controlled
environment.
The user interface provides easy access to the many features and applications of
the school Frog VLE. The Interface provides different user options whether being viewed
by a teacher, student, administrator or parent. This guide is based upon a teacher login
and so may include tools and features not available to other users.
Figure 2-1
Frog starts with a unique
1BestariNet Yes ID, which
gives an access into the
Frog VLE.
Figure 2-2
My Dashboard is the first
page is presented with
upon logging into the VLE.
It may be customized to
show the school calendar,
RSS feeds, or notifications.
User may also add personal
content such as
photographs, videos or
links to favorite websites.

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Figure 2-3
The School Dashboard
displays notices and
information vital to the
smooth running of the
school. Here user can view
notice boards, images,
videos and download
important files. It also
contains an MOE RSS feed
to keep users informed of
any education news or
information that is of
interest to schools and
teachers.
Figure 2-4
This section will walk
users through the main
work areas of the VLE.
Links to these areas can be
found in the Quick Launch
menu in the Frog Bar.

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3.0 IT Development Life Cycle
The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), also referred to as the Application
Development Life-Cycle, is a term used in systems engineering, information systems and
software engineering to describe a process for planning, creating, testing, and deploying
an information system.
1BestariNet is the first program on this scale worldwide. The MOE introduced the
Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 as part of its effort to help students in an
increasingly competitive global economy. As part of the blueprint, 1BestariNet will equip
all primary and secondary government schools across Malaysia with high-speed 4G
Internet connectivity (Yes 4G networks) and a proven cloud-based virtual learning
platform, the Frog VLE.
YTL Communications that are in charge of creating Frog VLE application often
have the job title of System Analyst. The major steps in creating the application include
the following and start at Planning step. During the Design phase the System Analyst
will document the inputs, processing and outputs of each program within the application.
During the Implementation phase programmers would be assigned to write the specific
programs using a programming language decided by the System Analyst. Once the

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system of programs is tested the Frog VLE is installed for schools to use. As time goes
by, things change and a specific part or program might need repair. During the
Maintenance phase, it goes through a mini planning, analysis, design and
implementation. The programs that need modification are identified and programmers
change or repair those programs. After several years of use, the system usually becomes
obsolete. At this point a major revision of the application is done. Thus the cycle repeats
itself.
YTL Communications which deploy a nationwide 4G network service signed a
Wholesale Ethernet Service and Master Tenancy for Infrastructure Sharing Agreement
with Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM)9
, thus bringing the promise of a truly converged
seamless broadband connectivity one step closer to reality. The 15-year agreement inked
by two of Malaysia’s most recognizable brands will enable YTL to leverage on TM’s
nationwide Wholesale Ethernet service, while riding on the High Speed Broadband
(“HSBB”) infrastructure, and TM’s other telecommunications facilities, to deliver 4G
services nationwide.
YTL Communications has obtained approval from the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to operate a 2.3 GHz WiMAX
wireless broadband network in Malaysia and is using this privilege to provide, in the near
future, state-of-the-art mobile connectivity with some of the biggest global technology
pioneers such as Cisco, Clearwire, GCT Semiconductor and Samsung.
With TM’s Wholesale Ethernet infrastructure, YTL can gain from the scalability
of bandwidth through TM’s integrated solutions and can also leverage on the sustained
and reliable bandwidth of TM’s Wholesale Ethernet to access large volumes of data and
utilize bandwidth intensive applications. Through these agreements as well, YTL will tap
on to more than 200 TM telecommunications towers across the country to facilitate the
roll-out and installation of its 4G network radios.
9
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), Malaysia’s leading integrated information and communications group, offers a
comprehensive range of communication services and solutions in broadband, data and fixed-line.

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4.0 Frog VLE Architecture
The 1Bestarinet solution is a connectivity-cum-cloud10
based software services
solution which covers the following key components:
 Last Mile Connectivity
 Back Haul
 Cloud Services for Virtual Learning Environment
 Cloud Services for Managed Security
 Hosting Services
 Internet Connectivity
10
A variety of computing concepts that involve a large number of computers connected through a real-time
communication network such as the Internet.

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The Virtualization Infrastructure provides the Virtualized Environment used by
the VLE Architecture and parts of the YTL Infrastructure. The Virtualization
Infrastructure uses Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHEV)11
as the hypervisor. The
Frog VLE solution has the following components:
 The Community site provides an interactive portal for teachers to communicate and
share with each other, as well as providing facilities for the MOE to create notices
that are displayed within each schools VLE.
 The Content store provides centralized resources which can be accessed through the
VLE.
 The SCORM services provide access to the Icodeon SCORM Engine for running
SCORM based content.
The community site, content store and SCORM are each a single clustered Frog
Platform and operate independently of the other VLE instances. This will facilitate the
sharing of resources developed within the VLE as well as any additional content agreed
and provided independently.
11
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach
to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. As the connective
hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant,
innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT.

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1. When school computers boot into windows or when SEP’s communication interval is
effective, The Symantec anti-virus client installed on the computers in the school
request for an updated anti-virus signature from the network.
2. The school computers connect to the wireless endpoint device (Zoom) placed in the
school by YTL.
3. The Zoom connects to 4G broadband via the 4G base station (macro network) to the
Symantec anti-virus servers placed in YTL data center.
4. The servers (in YTL data center) provide an updated signature and the school
computers get the update via the same path.

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5. (NOTE: The servers in turn should have received the updated anti-virus signature
from Symantec (internet). This happens via scheduled communication in between the
servers and Symantec).

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The content filter is one of the key components of the solution. It is used to ensure
that inappropriate content is being blocked from the students in the schools. YTL will be
deploying 2 units of the content filter. They will be configured in a fault tolerant
configuration to ensure that there is no disruption during an equipment failure:
The Content Filter appliance enables service providers to better manage excessive
increases in network traffic and subscriber growth by using a caching technology. By
utilizing highly effective caching technology, CacheFlow is able to dramatically
accelerate the delivery of rich Web 2.0 content including large files and video.
CacheFlow appliances also save bandwidth on expensive international links and backhaul
traffic, which greatly reduces infrastructure costs by controlling bandwidth consumption
and improving customer satisfaction.
Highly skilled engineers operate in secure
state-of-art 24/7/365 Network Operations
Centers (NOC), equipped with the best
monitoring and automation tools and
processes designed as per ITIL framework.
The service offerings can be tailored to
accommodate:
 Flexibility in the components of the infrastructure being monitored and managed.
 Availability of competency levels from L0 to L4.
 Shift coverage to accommodate “follow-the-sun” model.
 Setup and economies of scale of a NOC: Shared NOC or Dedicated NOC.

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Data Center
Sentul Data center is located in a Kuala Lumpur
suburb (Sentul), offering excellent opportunities for
both cost effective hosting and high speed
transaction connectivity solutions into and out of
Kuala Lumpur. Sentul has tier 4 data center
capabilities to support critical high performance and
high volume business applications with resilience and availability expected of world class
IT services. Sentul also offers variety of other data center specifications for non-critical
hosting needs
Data Center Capabilities
Sentul’s 24/7/365 operation center has full visibility of all
our data centers using enterprise-level systems monitoring,
environmental systems control and access to live visual
feeds. Experienced round-the-clock operators manage an
extensive range of technologies from virtual UNIX /
Windows servers to storage area networks to tape libraries; global wide area networks to
local point of presence. The Data Center is regularly tested to ensure the inbuilt resilience
is working to the specification. This gives the customer the necessary assurances that the
facility is operating and being maintained to the required Data Centre standard.
5.0 IT Performance Evaluation
The key thing to remember is that like all things IT, the VLE market place is
constantly changing and adapting. Every school is different, with particular needs and
outcomes they want from their VLE, and there is no magic bullet or perfect platform that
will work for everyone. The key thing when undertaking a review of the school VLE
provision or planning its implementation is to go through, in detail, a process like the one
outlined above of identifying what the school primary and secondary objectives are from
the project, and then exploring the full breadth of the marketplace, read all the literature,

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speak to the reps, but also contact other schools using the platforms and speak to the
teachers as well as the technical staff.
For me the key properties I’ve seen in successful Frog VLE deployments is a
clear and well-articulated reason for why the school wants a VLE, and a system which is
easy enough for the average member of staff to use without having to undergo significant
training.
PROS CONS
1. All-in-one package.
2. Seemingly forward thinking and
proactive company.
3. Good design skills.
4. Very easy to use.
5. AD integration.
6. Social networking element.
7. Flexible parental reporting.
8. Hosted on site.
9. Relatively low on-going costs.
10. Good technical support – Malaysia
phone line 7:00am-10:00pm five days
a week.
11. Offers off-site access to software via
Secure Gateway.
12. Flexible ‘FrogVLE’ concept allows
for drag and drop creation of complex
pages.
1. Limited online testing/quiz functions.
2. No integration with exchange data.
3. No display for Maths/Science notation
– e.g. Latex etc.
4. Weak forum tools.
5. Large initial outlay although financing
is available to spread this cost.
There are several pluses and minuses to Frog as a solution, and in some cases
some of the features are likely to be seen as pluses to some and minuses to others. A
single product – Frog is the only one stop shop solution we considered, this has potential
benefits in terms of integration between the VLE elements and the Parental
Reporting/Engagement elements. It also has the advantage that schools should be able to
roll out a complete solution in one go, although this may be seen as a disadvantage to
some as you loose the modular element.
For me the bottom line of what I like about Frog is the simplicity mixed with
flexibility. It is simple to create a page, throw up some resources, add in some media and
away you go. However underneath this is a very powerful system of Frog VLE which

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enables the user to create various different types of resources and ideas. I personally
think that Frog is the only product I have seen that would enable almost any teacher to
quickly get up and running and be able to create resources without having to undertake
significant INSET training. The Parental reporting side of Frog I think is a real strength,
as it purports to offer us significantly more flexibility. I felt that the setup of the parental
portal element of Frog had the potential to achieve more than simple reporting but more
along the lines of increased dialogue between teachers and parents.
There are several other features of Frog that I felt would be useful and engaging
for students. One of the biggest hurdles to getting engagement with students will always
be giving them a reason to visit the Frog VLE. If the communication is all one way (i.e.
we push stuff out to the students) then they are likely to lose traction as soon as there is a
period where nothing is added. By also making it a controlled ‘social’ environment we
stand a chance of students using it as a social medium as well as a learning medium
which has many positive benefits. Also the ability to embed a live website quickly and
easily into another page has interesting potential for those departments (like my own)
who already subscribe to other web-based resources as we could in theory just embed the
page directly into Frog so pupil need never really leave the Frog environment. The
bespoke element of Frog I think is huge benefit of their approach. I have been very
impressed by the quality of the graphical design work which Frog do and feel confident
that we would end up with a product that not only offers us the facilities we need but does
using a design that encourages people to use the site.
There are however some shortfalls with Frog. The current implementation
doesn’t offer us the level of ‘multiple-choice testing etc’ that we would necessarily want
but we have assurances that they know this is a short coming and that it is being worked
on. Also the current forums are quite limited no allowing for rich-text entry, or much in
terms of management. For me one of the most impressive elements of Frog has little to
do with the product directly but come from comments from other users. Frog is seems to
be consistently spoken of highly by its users.
From a personal perspective, I admire to the philosophy of Frog as a product, and
the open nature of the company (they have several blogs, twitter, and customer forums
etc where they communicate directly with their customers), and this means that I think

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they are a company and a product that a school could form a very productive relationship
with. These opinions are solely my own and reflect the considerations within a particular
set of constraints, which may not apply in another school. All of these products have
their own relative merits and in different scenarios each may be a sensible and
appropriate solution.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://1bestarinet.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology
http://www.frogasia.com/v3/
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx
http://www.moe.edu.my/btp/
http://www.moe.gov.my/
http://www.mohe.gov.my/educationmsia/
http://www.ytl.com/
http://www.ytlcommunity.com.my/
Norzaidi, M.D., and Intan Salwani, M. (2008). Information Technology (IT) Management
Models: An Introduction, University Publication Centre.
Turban, Leidner, Mclean, and Wetherbe (2010). Information Technology for Management, 7th
Ed., John Wiley.