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PSHS Main Campus Pilots AI-Powered Oral Assessments with better-ed

better-ed, the AI-powered education platform from Predictive Systems Inc., has officially launched a pilot program with the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus, marking a milestone in the journey to modernize AI-powered oral assessments in Philippine education. The collaboration follows a successful live demonstration and the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between better-ed and PSHS, held on campus in July.

Four people seated at a table signing documents beneath a screen reading 'Memorandum of Agreement Signing, Philippine Science High School with Predictive Systems Inc.' with the better-ed and Predictive Systems Inc. logos
Four people seated at a table signing documents beneath a screen reading 'Memorandum of Agreement Signing, Philippine Science High School with Predictive Systems Inc.' with the better-ed and Predictive Systems Inc. logos
The same four signatories now smiling at the camera after signing, seated behind the MOA signing screen showing the PSHS, better-ed, and Predictive Systems Inc. logos
The same four signatories now smiling at the camera after signing, seated behind the MOA signing screen showing the PSHS, better-ed, and Predictive Systems Inc. logos
better-ed ai-powered oral assessment pilot with PSHS main campus
better-ed ai-powered oral assessment pilot with PSHS main campus

From Concept to Campus: Why This Pilot Matters

PSHS, known for nurturing the country’s brightest students in STEM, has long been at the forefront of integrating technology into learning. However, even top-performing institutions face challenges in assessing higher-order thinking skills at scale — particularly through oral assessments, which are resource-intensive and often logistically difficult to administer.

better-ed addresses this by combining voice-based AI assessment with offline capabilities, allowing teachers to evaluate comprehension, reasoning, and communication skills without the constraints of traditional methods.

How the Live Demo Won Teachers Over

Before formalizing the pilot, better-ed conducted a live demonstration with PSHS teachers, showing how the platform can:

  • Capture students’ spoken answers via mobile devices, even without internet connectivity.
  • Use AI to transcribe, analyze, and provide insights on student responses.
  • Help teachers customize rubrics and feedback to match their subject needs.

The reactions were enthusiastic. Many teachers were surprised at how intuitive the system was, with no steep learning curve.

“As the main campus of the national science high school, we have a responsibility to set the standard in adopting innovations that shape the future of learning,” said Dr. Rod Allan De Lara, PSHS-Main Campus Director. “This pilot with better-ed is an important step in showing how AI can support teachers, empower students, and strengthen our role as a model for other schools in the country.

A PSHS teacher gesturing while speaking, seated beside a colleague in a meeting room
A PSHS teacher gesturing while speaking, seated beside a colleague in a meeting room
Wide shot of a meeting room where PSHS staff sit around tables watching a presentation on a wall-mounted screen showing the better-ed platform
Wide shot of a meeting room where PSHS staff sit around tables watching a presentation on a wall-mounted screen showing the better-ed platform
A presenter gestures in front of a slide listing AI adoption stats: 86% of students regularly use AI (Digital Education Council, 2024), plus points on plagiarism risk, students not understanding material, and the question of how to properly assess student knowledge
A presenter gestures in front of a slide listing AI adoption stats: 86% of students regularly use AI (Digital Education Council, 2024), plus points on plagiarism risk, students not understanding material, and the question of how to properly assess student knowledge
A presenter seated at a laptop beside a large screen displaying the better-ed platform mid-demo, showing a video call interface and a chat titled 'Review Freefall and Projectile Motion'
A presenter seated at a laptop beside a large screen displaying the better-ed platform mid-demo, showing a video call interface and a chat titled 'Review Freefall and Projectile Motion'

Addressing the Assessment Bottleneck

Oral assessments are widely recognized as effective tools for evaluating critical thinking, communication, and applied knowledge. However, they are rarely used at scale because:

  • They take too long — A single oral exam can take 10–15 minutes per student.
  • They require one-on-one interaction — Limiting class coverage.
  • They depend on note-taking accuracy — Human error can affect scoring.

With better-ed, teachers can collect and review responses asynchronously, freeing classroom time for interactive discussions and deeper learning activities.

“This pilot isn’t just about trying a new tool,” said Allan Tan, Founder of Predictive Systems Inc. “It’s about helping teachers reclaim time, improve feedback quality, and focus on the human side of education.”

Why PSHS is the Perfect Pilot Partner

The Main Campus of PSHS is an ideal environment to test better-ed’s capabilities:

  • Tech-savvy teachers and students who are comfortable experimenting with new learning tools.
  • Diverse subject areas that will test the platform’s adaptability — from science and math to humanities.
  • High academic standards, ensuring the pilot meets rigorous performance expectations.

Through this collaboration, better-ed will gather valuable feedback from some of the country’s top educators and students, shaping refinements for broader rollout.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Access

While this pilot focuses on PSHS Main Campus, better-ed’s vision is to scale its AI-powered oral assessment technology to other PSHS campuses and eventually to schools nationwide — including those in rural and underserved areas.

A key part of this roadmap is offline functionality, which is currently under development. Once launched, this feature will allow schools with limited internet connectivity to use better-ed seamlessly, ensuring equitable access to voice-based learning tools.

“Offline capability will be a game-changer,” said Jan Murillo, better-ed’s lead developer. “It means that even schools outside major cities can benefit from innovations like better-ed.”

Responsible AI in the Classroom

better-ed was designed with Responsible AI Principles at its core — transparency, fairness, safety, privacy, and performance. All student data is securely handled, with controls in place to ensure teachers have full oversight of the assessment process.

“We believe in empowering teachers, not replacing them,” emphasized Allan. “Our AI is here to assist educators in making informed, human-centered decisions about learning.”

What’s Next in the Pilot

The pilot will run over the course of the upcoming school term, with teachers integrating better-ed into select lessons and assessments. The program will track:

  • Teacher time saved in grading and feedback.
  • Improvements in the depth and clarity of student responses.
  • Student engagement and confidence in oral communication.

At the end of the pilot, PSHS and better-ed will jointly review results, identify refinements, and explore broader deployment.

A Future Where Learning Speaks Louder

This collaboration is more than a test run — it’s a glimpse into a future where learning that sticks starts with speaking. By combining AI’s efficiency with the irreplaceable insight of educators, better-ed and PSHS are setting a precedent for how oral assessments can be made scalable, equitable, and impactful.

About better-ed

better-ed is an AI-powered education platform developed by Predictive Systems Inc., designed to make oral assessments more scalable, equitable, and data-driven. With features like offline AI processing, customizable rubrics, and speech-to-text analysis, better-ed empowers teachers to focus on meaningful feedback and student growth. *Your data. Your AI. Your way.*If your school or institution is interested in exploring AI-powered oral assessments, contact Predictive Systems Inc. to schedule a live demo. Visit better-ed’s website to learn more.